What you need to know about the next solar eclipse

Aug 15, 2026

4 MIN READ

The Great Pyramids of Giza complex, Egypt. muratart/Shutterstock

Wide view of the Giza Pyramid Complex at sunset near Cairo, Egypt

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Total solar eclipses are as breathtaking as they are rare. They exist for a brief moment in time and only in specific locations, and no two eclipses are the same.

The moment the moon passes in front of the sun, the world goes dark, the birds stop chirping, and rays of light struggle to wriggle out from the shadows. It is quite literally otherworldly, and it serves as a reminder of the magic of the cosmos.

As with all travel, it's not just about the destination or the solar eclipse itself. While you may be surrounded by strangers halfway across the world, in that moment we are all humans watching the sky together. And there is something so unifying about bearing witness to a celestial event of this grandeur. Solar eclipses remind us how small and brief we are in the grand scheme of the universe, bringing cities together and raising the spirits of all who witnessed it.

If you are interested in experiencing it all for yourself, here’s what you need to know about planning a trip to see the next total solar eclipse. Oh, and the travel-planning experts at Lonely Planet Journeys can help you create the perfect future eclipse itinerary, whether you're going next year or in 2038! What can we say? We're planners.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

Hot air balloon flying above The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu in Theban Necropolis at Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt — Hot-air balloons flying over the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt. Alexandra Lande/Shutterstock

The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027. The path of totality, or where the moon’s shadow falls and you can experience a total solar eclipse, will cross Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Most notably, it will pass directly over the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, the Great Pyramids of Giza near Cairo, and Mecca in Saudi Arabia, according to the National Solar Observatory.

The next solar eclipse is particularly noteworthy because it will be the longest eclipse in our lifetimes, lasting more than six minutes. For reference, the 2026 solar eclipse in Spain lasted less than 2.5 minutes.

When is the next total solar eclipse in the United States?

Photo of the totality during the 2023 Australian total solar eclipse in Exmouth — Totality during the 2023 solar eclipse seen from Exmouth, Australia. aeonWAVE/Shutterstock

The next total solar eclipse in the United States will occur on March 30, 2033 in Alaska. It will pass over Utqiagvik, Prudhoe Bay, Kotzebue, and Nome, with a maximum totality of 2.5 minutes. Late March is also peak aurora season, so celestial lovers can also travel to the Arctic Circle to try to observe the northern lights on the same trip.

What do I need to know about planning a trip to a solar eclipse?

Book in advance

New Yorkers don their solar glasses to view the solar eclipse in Bryant Park in Manhattan — New Yorkers donning safety glasses to view the solar eclipse from Manhattan. James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Even though it’s a year out, hotels, tours and cruises are already starting to book up for the 2027 eclipse. If you are hoping to see it, buy your tickets and book accommodation as soon as possible, especially if you are hoping to go to Luxor Temple, Mecca or another popular destination.

Choose your location wisely

It’s important to consider the weather and sky conditions to ensure that you have the best experience viewing the total solar eclipse. Some travelers have struggled to actually witness totality because of cloudy or rainy weather, so choose destinations that historically have clear skies during that time of year. Luckily for travelers in 2027, the total eclipse will be in the desert in the middle of summer, so odds are that it will be a perfect viewing condition.

Pack the essentials

Order eclipse glasses before your trip just in case they sell out at your destination (it’s just not worth the stress of finding them the day of) or worse, you inadvertently buy non-compliant glasses. While, according to NASA, you won’t need to wear the glasses during totality, you will need them before and after to protect your eyes.

If you are hoping to capture the eclipse, you may want to invest in a tripod to properly capture the shot. However, don’t forget to put the phones and cameras down to witness this rare cosmic occurrence fully.