Solar eclipse 2026 live stream: How to watch live video today and what time the eclipse starts in the UK

A GENERATIONAL astronomical event is taking place in the UK today, with a significant solar eclipse visible for the first time since 1999. Along with it being the first solar eclipse in the UK this century, it will be the last one for nearly three decades – and you can watch a live stream right here. A solar eclipse will be visible in Britain on Wednesday Credit: Getty Images There is another deep partial solar eclipse on November 14, 2050 Credit: Getty Images How to watch a live stream of the solar eclipse today For anyone unable to watch the solar eclipse in person, there is no need to worry as streams are available to watch via providers in the UK. There is a live stream at the top of this page, which will initially show crowds assembling to watch the total eclipse in Spain and Iceland, before showing the latest events from the UK this evening – you can also follow on The Sun’s YouTube channel. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! Greenwich’s Royal Observatory will also be streaming its own broadcast, which begins at 6:10pm BST in preparation for the peak time to view the eclipse. In addition, the European Space Agency (ESA) will broadcast live tracking of the Sun’s path of totality via its official YouTube channel. You can also follow our live blog of the solar eclipse, which will feature all the latest updates as they happen. What time does the solar eclipse start in the UK? Exact times vary depending on where in the UK you are viewing the solar eclipse from. In London, the partial eclipse begins at 6:17pm, reaches its maximum at 7:12pm and ends at 8:06pm. It begins at 6:08pm in Edinburgh and Glasgow, peaking at 7:05pm, while Truro sees first contact at 6:18pm and maximum coverage at 7:16pm. Most read in Tech Royal Observatory Greenwich estimates that viewers in London will see around 90% coverage, compared with roughly 95% in Cornwall. The path of totality is the narrow track across Earth’s surface where the Moon completely blocks out the Sun, briefly plunging it into total darkness. The Moon is set to cover between 90% and 96% of the Sun at maximum eclipse in the UK There is another deep partial solar eclipse on November 14, 2050, but it is not predicted to be as close to totality. A deeper partial eclipse follows on September 3, 2081, when up to 99% of the Sun is set to be hidden from parts of Great Britain. Comment now