The next solar eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026.
During an annular solar eclipse, the moon covers a majority of the sun, leaving a distinct ring of light, hence the nickname 'ring of fire' eclipse.
Countdown begins: Feb. 17’s annular solar eclipse is just over a week away
We're just over a week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! An annular solar eclipse will take place on Feb. 17, 2026. During this dramatic event, the moon will slide in front of the sun but won't cover it completely, leaving a glowing 'ring of fire' around the edges. That dramatic view will only be visible from a remote part of Antarctica, where up to 96% of the sun will be eclipsed for a little over 2 minutes — meaning very few people on Earth will witness annularity in person.
More people will see a partial solar eclipse, with the moon covering a smaller portion of the sun across Antarctica, parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.
To find out more, check out our annular solar eclipse 2026 guide.
One week to go! We're ready, are you?
We're just one week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! Here's what you need to know before a dramatic "ring of fire" annular eclipse darkens the sky over Antarctica on Feb. 17, likely confusing millions of penguins.
Read more: 1 week until an annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a 'ring of fire' over Antarctica
Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible from?
The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be a dramatic annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17. The downside for most of us is that the stunning 'ring of fire' will be witnessed by more penguins than people.
Stretching 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long and 383 miles (616 km) wide, the path of annularity — where the 'ring of fire' will be visible — cuts across western Antarctica and skims the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.
Read more: Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible on Feb. 17?
What happens during the annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun's disk during the new moon phase while at a distant point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. Around this time, the lunar disk appears slightly smaller than the sun in Earth's sky. As a result, a sliver of the sun can be seen surrounding the moon during annularity — the equivalent to totality during a total solar eclipse.
Read more: Here's what will happen during each phase of the Feb. 17 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse
Why do solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs?
Eclipses often feel like sudden, one-off spectacles, appearing out of nowhere after months of familiar moon phases. In reality, they arrive in predictable pairs during brief periods called eclipse seasons. The next one runs from Feb. 17 to March 3, 2026, bringing both a solar and a lunar eclipse. Here we explore why.
Read more: Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs — and what an eclipse season really is
Want to know more about the annular solar eclipse?
On Feb. 17, 2026, a dramatic annular solar eclipse will trace a narrow path across Antarctica, briefly turning the sun into a burning "ring of fire" as the moon passes almost completely in front of it. While only a handful of humans will see the full effect, much of Antarctica, along with parts of southern Africa and South America, will experience a partial solar eclipse, as the lunar disk occults a smaller section of the solar orb.
Read more: Annular solar eclipse 2026: Everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire'
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