If you’re on the French Riviera, you’ll have the rare opportunity to watch a solar eclipse this month!
When will the solar eclipse be visible on the Côte d’Azur?
The solar eclipse is set to be visible at sunset on the Riviera, on 12 August 2026. It will start from around 19:30 and will last about 1 hour and nine minutes.
While the full solar eclipse will be visible across parts of Europe, here in the South of France we will see a partial solar eclipse – with the moon obscuring a very large part of the sun (around 95%).
The full eclipse will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland Portugal and the northern half of Spain which will “experience the largest area of totality in Europe”, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
A partial eclipse will also be visible in northern North America and western Africa.
At exactly what time will the eclipse be visible on the Riviera?
The times to view this extraordinary celestial spectacle only vary by about one minute between Menton and Saint-Tropez. Sun set will happen at around 20:39. Here are some exact times to watch the eclipse along the coast:
MONACO Partial Solar Eclipse Times
- 19:30 – partial eclipse begins
- 20:23 – maximum eclipse (with the sun at its most hidden)
- 21:14 – partial eclipse ends
NICE
- 19:30 – partial eclipse begins
- 20:24 – maximum eclipse
- 21:14 – partial eclipse ends
CANNES
- 19:31
- 20:24
- 21:14
SAINT-TROPEZ
- 19:31
- 20:24:57
- 21:15
Source: TimeandDate
What is a solar eclipse?
This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun’s light.
Interestingly, although the sun is about 400 times larger than the moon, it’s also about 400 times further away, which is what makes the two appear almost exactly the same size in our sky, explains EarthSky.
“During ‘totality’, the Moon completely covers the Sun, leaving viewers in daytime darkness and revealing the Sun’s faintly glowing corona (outer atmosphere),” says ESA.
This means that for those places where they have a full eclipse, like the tiny Spanish village of Avellanosa de Muñó, they will experience two ‘sunsets’ in one evening.
Can you look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse?
Never look directly at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses or a properly filtered solar telescope. Ordinary sunglasses, even with filters, are not safe and can cause permanent eye damage, warns ESA.
How to safely watch the solar eclipse
It’s vital to use ISO 12312-2 certified eyewear. No other protection guarantees sufficient safety.
Saint-Tropez tourism office and Theoule-sur-Mer’s tourist office are selling special certified glasses to watch the eclipse. Check your local tourism office. Some pharmacies are also already selling them in packs of five.
How often do solar eclipses happen?
While somewhere on Earth, there are usually between two and five solar eclipses every year, total solar eclipses are much rarer from any single location. On average, the same place experiences one only about every 350 to 400 years, although the interval varies considerably, according to a scholarly article on arXiv.
Why is this eclipse special?
August’s solar eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse since 11 August 1999 that is visible from mainland Europe.
“A total solar eclipse is one of those rare moments when millions of people can look up together and feel both wonder and curiosity. It is a shared moment that connects us to the Universe and reminds us that the desire to explore and understand is one of humanity’s greatest strengths,” says Professor Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science.
While we in France will experience a partial eclipse, just across the border in Spain, observers within the narrow “path of totality” will experience complete darkness for around two minutes as the Sun disappears entirely, reveals TimeandDate, the first time from mainland Spain since 1912. (Spain is due for another total solar eclipse in 2027 and 2028.
How much of the sun will be covered on the Riviera?
A large portion of the sun – around 95% – will be obscured by the moon on the French Riviera.
France did experience a partial solar eclipse in March last year (2025), but the moon only covered between 10 and 30% of the sun. This year it will range from 94.97% in Monaco to 96.35% in Marseilles, with over 95% for Nice, Antibes, Cannes and Theoule-sur-Mer, so we will experience a definite darkening of the skies.
What changes during an eclipse?
According to arXiv these are some of the effects that may be felt or seen:
- Daylight may take on an unusual silvery quality.
- Temperatures may drop by several degrees.
- Birds sometimes stop singing and begin their evening routines.
- Streetlights equipped with light sensors occasionally switch on.
- Obviously, the closer you are to totality, the more dramatic these effects become.
Where to watch the eclipse on the French Riviera
- CAP D’ANTIBES: on the western side, sitting on the terrace at Belles Rives or Hotel 1932, on one of the Juan-les-Pins beaches or up at the Lighthouse of La Garoupe.
- CANNES – views along Midi Beach should be great. Check if your favourite beach club is hosting a special evening of eclipse watching! For instance, Copal Beach has a special event starting at 7pm. You can reserve a beach bed (matlas) with eclipse glasses included, and enjoy signature cocktails and beautiful views. Other notable spots include the private and public beaches along La Croisette, Le Suquet and Port Canto.
- THEOULE-SUR-MER
- CAP D’AIL waterfront
- NICE: Castle Hill park (le Parc de la Colline du Château), Promenade des Anglais, on the rooftop of Anantara Plaza Hotel. PLEASE NOTE: Castle Hill Park will remain open until 21:00 specifically for the occasion!
- SAINT-TROPEZ: Citadelle de Saint-Tropez or Plage de la Bouillabaisse
- SAINT-PAUL DE VENCE
- AURON: The tourism board advises heading to the peaks and unobstructed viewpoints around Auron, such as the summit of Las Donnas, the peak of Ciavalet, or the Col du Blainon, from 7pm.
The most important point is to have a clear view of the western horizon, where you would usually watch a golden sunset. It will occur when the sun is low, near the horizon.
Cote d’Azur Tourism says: “Choose a spot with a clear view to the west, and most importantly, don’t forget your ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses to enjoy the phenomenon safely. 🕶️”
