The great Egyptian eclipse of 2027
On 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will sweep from the Atlantic coast of Morocco, across southern Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with totality lasting up to 6 minutes 23 seconds, the longest anywhere on Earth since 1991, and a duration that will not be beaten again until 2114. Its point of greatest eclipse falls almost directly over Luxor, Egypt, home to the Valley of the Kings and some of the ancient world's most extraordinary monuments.
Why this eclipse is exceptional
A handful of factors line up unusually well for this eclipse, each explained in more depth on our Eclipse Education page. The Moon is close to perigee, appearing larger than usual against the Sun. The path crosses close to the equator near local solar noon, where Earth's own rotation works hardest against the umbra's ground speed, slowing it down and stretching out totality. And Earth itself is a little past aphelion, when the Sun appears at its smallest. None of these alone would be remarkable; together, they produce one of the longest totalities possible.
The path
Totality begins over the North Atlantic before making landfall in Morocco, then crosses the Mediterranean and Middle East before ending at sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Morocco & southern Spain
The path first reaches land in Morocco, before its northern edge grazes Gibraltar and the southernmost tip of Spain.
Algeria, Tunisia & Libya
The path widens as it crosses North Africa, with totality lasting progressively longer as it approaches Egypt.
Egypt, including Luxor
The point of greatest eclipse, and the longest totality of the entire path, falls just south of Luxor, making this the eclipse's headline destination.
Saudi Arabia, Yemen & Somalia
The path continues south-east across the Arabian Peninsula before totality ends at sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Why Egypt?
The centre line passes right through Egypt including the point of greatest eclipse, providing viewers with many options for seeing several minutes of totality from a wide variety of locations. It is also, unusually for an eclipse destination, one of the world's great historic countries. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temples, and the wider ruins of ancient Thebes all sit within or near the path, making this a rare case where the best eclipse viewing and a major cultural destination coincide.
A word of warning. August in Upper Egypt is extremely hot, routinely well exceeding 40°C, so anyone planning to travel for this eclipse should plan around the heat as seriously as around the sky: shade, hydration, and avoiding prolonged exposure during the hottest part of the day matter as much as clear skies.
Never look directly at the Sun, at any stage of a partial or annular eclipse, without certified ISO 12312-2 solar viewing filters. This applies throughout every phase except during totality itself, when the Sun is fully covered. See our eclipse safety guide for full detail.
We will keep you updated on viewing recommendations
Unlike our La Camperona page for the 2026 eclipse, we don't yet have a specific recommended viewing location or event for 2 August 2027. We will update this page as things progress. In the meantime, join our mailing list to hear when we do.