The Solar Eclipse 2026 — Watch the Sky Change from the Arctic North
What will happen here?
The eclipse travels southwest to northeast across Iceland in the late afternoon. The western edge of North Iceland is the closest part of our region to the path of totality — so close that Blönduós is only a two-hour drive from the totality zone.
Even for those staying further east in the region, the experience will be unmistakable. With 97–99% of the Sun blocked, temperatures will drop, shadows will sharpen to an unusual crispness, and the horizon will glow with a soft amber ring. Birds will behave strangely. It will feel, briefly, like dusk arriving in the wrong direction.
Note that the event is big, please be prepared, and we strongly advise using https://safetravel.is/travel-conditions/solar-eclipse-iceland/ in planning before you travel.
The table below shows how each town in North Iceland is affected. For exact local times and confirmed figures, use the interactive map at eclipse2026.is.
| Town / Area | Eclipse coverage (approx.) | Max. eclipse (approx. local time) | Drive to totality (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borðeyri | ~99% | 17:45 | ~1 h 30 min |
| Hvammstangi | ~99% | 17:45 | ~1 h 45 min |
| Laugarbakki | ~99% | 17:46 | ~2 h |
| Blönduós | ~99% | 17:46 | ~2 h |
| Skagaströnd | ~99% | 17:46 | ~2 h |
| Varmahlíð | ~98.5% | 17:47 | ~2 h 30 min |
| Hólar | ~98.5% | 17:47 | ~2 h 30 min |
| Sauðárkrókur | ~98.5% | 17:48 | ~2 h 30 min |
| Hofsós | ~98% | 17:48 | ~3 h |
| Siglufjörður | ~98% | 17:49 | ~3 h 30 min |
| Ólafsfjörður | ~98% | 17:49 | ~3 h 30 min |
| Dalvík | ~98% | 17:50 | ~3 h 45 min |
| Hrísey island | ~98% | 17:50 | ~4 h (+ ferry) |
| Árskógssandur | ~98% | 17:50 | ~3 h 45 min |
| Hauganes | ~98% | 17:50 | ~3 h 45 min |
| Hjalteyri | ~98% | 17:50 | ~4 h |
| Akureyri | 97.91% ✓ | ~17:51 | ~4 h |
| Hrafnagil | ~98% | 17:51 | ~4 h |
| Grenivík | ~97.5% | 17:51 | ~4 h |
| Svalbarðseyri | ~97.5% | 17:52 | ~4 h 15 min |
| Laugar (Reykjadalur) | ~97% | 17:52 | ~5 h |
| Húsavík | ~97% | 17:53 | ~5 h |
| Mývatn | ~96.5% | 17:54 | ~5 h 30 min |
| Grímsey island | ~96.5% | 17:53 | Not applicable (remote island) |
| Kópasker | ~96% | 17:55 | ~6 h |
| Raufarhöfn | ~95.5% | 17:56 | ~6 h |
| Þórshöfn | ~95.5% | 17:56 | ~6 h 30 min |
| Bakkafjörður | ~95% | 17:57 | ~7 h 30 min |
| Coverage figures are estimates based on geographic position relative to the eclipse path, except Akureyri (confirmed by eclipse2026.is at 97.91%). Maximum eclipse times are approximate local times (Iceland = UTC+0). For verified figures and exact local times for your location, use the interactive map at eclipse2026.is. | |||
Where to watch from North Iceland
The western edge of North Iceland is where the eclipse will be at its most dramatic within our region. These towns sit closest to the path of totality and will experience the deepest coverage.
Blönduós, Hvammstangi and the western coast If you want the deepest eclipse experience available in North Iceland without travelling into the totality zone, this is where to be. Blönduós sits on the Húnaflói bay with wide, open views — perfect for an unobstructed watch. The drive from here to totality in the Westfjords is around two hours, so a flexible visitor could experience a deep partial eclipse here and still drive to totality on the same afternoon if conditions allow.
Hvammstangi, just to the west, and Skagaströnd on the bay's southern shore, offer similar coverage. The coastal setting adds to the atmosphere — the sea will look strange and beautiful as the light shifts.
Sauðárkrókur and Skagafjörður Skagafjörður is one of the most scenically varied areas in North Iceland, and in the summer it rewards those who arrive with time to explore. The historic site at Hólar, the riding country around Varmahlíð, the sea views from Hofsós — all of these make excellent bases for an eclipse day with meaningful things to do before and after. Coverage across the fjord will be in the 98–99% range.
Siglufjörður Iceland's northernmost town is a place of extraordinary beauty — the fjord, the mountains, the restored herring-era townscape. For eclipse viewing, Siglufjörður offers a clear western horizon looking out from the end of the fjord, and around 98% coverage. It is also a naturally quieter destination than Akureyri, which makes the moment feel more personal. The drive to totality takes around three and a half hours.
Akureyri As the region's main hub, Akureyri is the natural base for most visitors — good food and accommodation, easy access to the wider region, and Eyjafjörður offering a broad view to the southwest where the eclipsed Sun will sit. The city will see 97.91% coverage, with the maximum just before 18:00.
For the best view from Akureyri, get away from buildings and trees. The shoreline along the fjord, open hillsides above the city, or the open farmland of Eyjafjarðarsveit to the south all offer wider sky than the town centre.
Húsavík and Mývatn Both are iconic North Iceland destinations and both will experience a very significant eclipse — around 97% and 96.5% respectively. The volcanic landscape around Mývatn is already one of the most otherworldly places in Iceland; watching the light drain from it as the eclipse deepens is a compelling reason to be there. In Húsavík, whale watching boat operators may offer special eclipse trips on the water — a memorable combination.
The far northeast — Kópasker, Raufarhöfn, Þórshöfn Coverage in the far northeast is around 95–96% — still an impressive eclipse, and an area that will be far quieter than anywhere closer to the totality path. For those who are already exploring the Arctic Coast Way, these are valid eclipse locations; just be aware the drive to totality is six or more hours.
Make the most of your eclipse day
The eclipse maximum falls in the early evening, between roughly 17:45 and 18:00 depending on where you are in the region. That gives you a full day — and for most visitors, several days either side — to explore.
If you are based in the west of the region (Blönduós area) You are closest to the totality path, so you have a genuine choice on the day: watch a 99% eclipse from the bay at Hvammstangi with the sea as your backdrop, or drive two hours into the Westfjords for totality. Check the weather forecast that morning — cloud cover is the main variable, and having both options means you can move to where the sky is clearest. Book accommodation early; this part of North Iceland will be a natural staging point.
If you are based in Akureyri Spend the morning in the city or out along the fjord, then drive to your chosen spot in the early afternoon. The solar glasses go on when the partial eclipse begins, and the show unfolds over roughly two hours. Finish the evening at a restaurant in town.
If you are heading to Mývatn A full day at Mývatn easily earns its keep: Námafjall's geothermal landscape, the Mývatn Nature Baths, Dimmuborgir's lava formations, the birdlife on the lake. Time your viewing spot beside the water for early evening and let the eclipse do the rest.
The midnight sun North Iceland in August still has near-continuous daylight. Hours after the eclipse, the sky will still glow. The same sun that vanished into a crescent will be riding the horizon at midnight. That contrast — the brief strangeness of the eclipse, then the return of the endless summer light — is worth pausing to appreciate.
Eye safety — please read before you go
Never look directly at the Sun during a partial eclipse without proper protection. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough and will not protect your eyes. You need certified solar eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Eclipse glasses reduce the Sun's brightness by a factor of tens of thousands and filter out harmful radiation. They are the only safe way to look at the Sun during any phase of the partial eclipse. Purchase certified glasses well in advance — demand will be very high across Iceland in the run-up to August 2026. For full safety guidance, visit: eclipse2026.is/eye-safety
Plan ahead August is North Iceland's busiest month.
August is North Iceland's busiest month. If you are travelling for the eclipse, book accommodation as early as you can — especially in the western part of the region (Blönduós, Hvammstangi, Sauðárkrókur) and in Akureyri. These areas will attract visitors not just for the eclipse itself, but as staging points for driving to totality.
Keep your itinerary flexible on the day. Cloud cover matters most. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (vedur.is) will have forecasts; check road conditions at road.is if you plan to move on the day. For the best experience and up-to-date safety information, use https://safetravel.is/travel-conditions/solar-eclipse-iceland/.
For everything eclipse-related — interactive map with local times, eye safety, glasses, and tours — the official resource is eclipse2026.is
Where to watch
Map: Andreas Dill & Sævar Helgi Bragason for eclipse2026.is & icelandatnight.is
North Iceland has always been a place where nature reminds you of its scale. The eclipse will be one more moment in a long tradition of that — a sky event visible across one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth, shared by relatively few visitors compared to the busier corners of Iceland. Come up. Find your spot. Look up — with your eclipse glasses on, of course. For more on visiting North Iceland in August, explore northiceland.is