Iceland Unveils Festival For First Total Solar Eclipse Since 1954
Famed for its volcanoes, waterfalls and displays of the northern lights, Iceland will, on Aug. 12, 2026, host another wonder of nature — its first total solar eclipse since 1954. It was announced today by organizers IMXP and Secret Solstice that it will also see its first eclipse festival, an immersive four-day "leave-no-trace" experience for 3,333 eclipse chasers to be held on western Iceland's iconic Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
The positioning of the 'Iceland Eclipse Festival,' slated for August 12–15, 2026, close to Hellissandur is no accident. At the western tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, it will experience 2 minutes and 7 seconds of totality, during which the skies will darken, and the sun's tenuous corona will become visible to the naked eye. That's within a few seconds of the maximum totality possible in the path of totality in Iceland, which encompasses the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes and the Reykjanes Peninsula, home to the country's capital, Reykjavík.
Iceland's rare totality will open the event, which festival organizers say will feature live music, large-scale art installations, talks, rituals and wellness offerings. There will be two main music stages as well as areas for speakers, presentations and panels. It's inspired by Burning Man, Art Basel, SXSW and TED.
"As someone who calls this land home, it is incredibly meaningful to return with a project as rare and special as Iceland Eclipse," said Fred Ólafsson, Founder of Secret Solstice. "This partnership is a chance to co-create something truly memorable for both Icelanders and the global community during one of the most extraordinary celestial events of our time."
Iceland Eclipse Festival will be held from Aug. 12-15, 2026 in Snæfellsnes, Iceland.
Only 3,333 passes will be sold, organizers confirmed, emphasizing the event's curated, intimate nature. A portion of tickets will be reserved for Icelandic residents.
Visitors will be able to choose from tent camping, glamping, RV sites or private local accommodations. Tickets are expected to go on sale in July, with pricing and package details released exclusively to those who sign up via Eclipse.is. They will include standard festival passes that include basic camping, as well as a premium Odinn package presented by Secret Solstice.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula, often referred to as 'Iceland in Miniature,' is renowned for its diverse geology, minimal light pollution, and its prominent place in literature — Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth begins beneath the region's iconic Snæfellsjökull volcano. The site is located near Hellissandur's colorful mural-lined streets and within walking distance of the iconic Ingjaldshólskirkja church. Elsewhere on Snæfellsnes, there are natural hot springs, lava fields, black sand beaches, the iconic Budakirkja (Black Church), Kirkjufell Mountain, and Vatnshellir cave within Snæfellsjökull National Park.
The path of totality sweeps near Iceland and over Spain on August 12, 2026.
The Aug. 12, 2026, eclipse is the next total solar eclipse visible from Earth. A path of totality stretching 183 to 190 miles wide will cross over parts of Russian Siberia, Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. Roughly 15 million people live within that path, though only 400,000 hundred thousand reside in Iceland, making it a rare and remote vantage point.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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