How and where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Switzerland

On the evening of Wednesday, August 12, 2026, a rare total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Europe. Anyone in Switzerland will also get to experience the special celestial event, as a partial solar eclipse will be visible here.

Peak viewing times and locations

In just over a week's time, Switzerland is set to witness “the largest partial solar eclipse visible until 2081”, reports Watson. The moon will move in between the Earth and the sun, totally or partially obscuring it from view and causing Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and Russia to turn from daytime into nighttime. 

So, if you don’t want to wait another 55 years to experience the next total solar eclipse from Switzerland, head outside on the evening of August 12. Just before the sun sets, at around 8.17pm, writes 20 Minuten, the sun will be around 93 percent obscured depending on where you are.

In Switzerland, just a small, curved crescent of the sun will be visible. "So, unlike with a total eclipse, we won't experience that strange feeling of night, even though it's daytime. But there will be a noticeable decrease in brightness, as we will only be seeing 10 percent of the sun," explains Georges Meynet, honorary professor of astronomy at the University of Geneva.

The best place to see the solar eclipse in Switzerland is with a view to the west-northwest. Geneva is the best city to head to, where the eclipse will be between 91,8 percent and 92,7 percent. In Zurich, between 88,8 percent and 90,6 percent of the sun will be obscured but in reality, the difference will likely not be noticeable. 

How to watch safely

Visibility will depend on the weather, comments Michaël Cottier, science communicator at the FXB observatory: “If there are storm clouds in the west or fog, we will have problems.” As the sun will already be low in the sky, Cottier recommends heading to higher altitudes for the best view. 

NASA also shared some tips on how to enjoy the event while remaining safe. The space agency recommended wearing ISO-certified eclipse glasses, rather than regular sunglasses, to protect your eyes while looking towards the sky. Avoid using binoculars, a telescope, or a camera that doesn’t have a solar filter.