On 12 August 2026, a rare astronomical phenomenon not seen since 1905 will take place: a total solar eclipse. For around a minute and a half, the Sun will be completely obscured by the Moon, and the Balearic Islands are among the areas of greatest strategic interest for observing the event.
With this in mind, last December the Govern de les Illes Balears created a Commission for the Management of Actions Related to the Total Solar Eclipse of 2026, with the aim of “guaranteeing a coordinated, efficient and safe response” to all situations that this astronomical phenomenon may generate within Balearic society and, by extension, in Ibiza and Formentera. The regional government explains that the eclipse poses a dual challenge. On the one hand, there is the forecast of a massive influx of visitors and the resulting pressure on infrastructure, mobility, natural areas and emergency services. On the other, there is the opportunity to use the event as a boost for scientific outreach, public information and the international projection of the islands.
The commission’s objective is to anticipate risks, plan actions and ensure an orderly response, while also promoting the drafting of a regional action plan designed to minimise negative impacts and maximise potential benefits. “It will be a large-scale outdoor event. Many people will come, and local councils must be prepared to adapt to this situation”, said María Jesús Palomeque, president of the Agrupació Astronòmica d’Eivissa, in August last year in an interview with Diario de Ibiza.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.