Solar Eclipses 2026, 2025 and the Love Story of 1962: Why the Sky is Now Your Travel Planner

Remember back on April 8, 2024? That strange light, the birds suddenly falling silent, and all of us staring skyward armed with protective glasses? The total solar eclipse over North America was just a taste of what's heading our way here in Europe over the next couple of years. And if you're not paying attention now, you'll literally be left staring at nothing on August 12, 2026 – or worse, at a cloudy sky from the wrong spot.

Because this time, the hotspot is seriously close: Spain, specifically the Balearic Islands and the northern Spanish coast, will be the epicentre of this cosmic spectacle. Word from the islands is that hotels in Mallorca for that week in August are already selling like hotcakes. So, if you're hoping to snag a spot with a sea view and a clear line of sight to the southwest, you'd better get moving. It's a bit like the total eclipses of recent years, only this time it's the travel agents here in New Zealand who'll be working overtime.

Three key dates for your diary

Before that big event, though, we've got the partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025. From New Zealand, it won't be visible, but for the true enthusiasts among you planning a trip, it's a solid warm-up. The real party kicks off on August 12, 2026 – and it won't just be busy up in the sky, but down on the ground too. Insiders are tipping that thousands from all over the world, including plenty of Kiwis, will flock to Palma, Valencia, or the Catalonian countryside.

• March 29, 2025: Partial solar eclipse – best viewed from places like Europe, West Africa, and eastern parts of the Americas.
• August 12, 2026: Total solar eclipse – Spain takes centre stage. The path of totality includes northern Spain and the Balearic Islands. Mallorca is already red-hot.
• August 2, 2027: The next total eclipse in Southern Europe – but that's a story for another day.

Sure, you might think, "She'll be right, I'll just watch it from the balcony." But a total solar eclipse is about total immersion. It's about that fleeting, surreal feeling when day turns to night and a reddish glow flickers on the horizon. That is something worth travelling for. And if you're keeping an eye on booking trends for the islands, plenty of people are thinking exactly the same.

The love story of 1962 – what's that got to do with the moon?

And then there's this curious search term that's been popping up in trends lately: "love 1962". What's that got to do with an eclipse? Dig into the archives, and you'll find February 5, 1962. That day, the sun darkened over large parts of Asia and the Pacific – but that alone doesn't explain the romance. The people who were there, though, tell a different tale: it was an era of optimism and new beginnings, and many couples used the unique atmosphere of the eclipse to get engaged. My neighbour, born in 1940, swears that's the afternoon she fell for her husband – because he was the only one in the village square who could explain why the moon was kissing the sun. Maybe that's it: a solar eclipse etches itself into your memory, and if you share it with someone, it becomes a matter of the heart.

That's exactly what will happen on August 12, 2026. Thousands of people will hold their breath together, and for many, that moment will become a lifelong memory – maybe even the start of a love story. So, get planning now, grab your loved ones, and get ready for a celestial spectacle that reminds us just how small we really are. And if you end up in Mallorca without a hotel – console yourself with a gin and tonic on the beach and watch from there. The view's unobstructed, and sometimes, that's all the luck you need.