Lleida residents and visitors planning to watch the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 will need to book in advance for the city’s two designated viewing areas, where capacity will be controlled. Lleida City Council, known locally as the Paeria, has announced mobility and safety measures including a strengthened L7 urban bus service, police presence and emergency teams.

The two sites, at the Seu Vella hill and beside the football pitch in Mangraners, are planned to accommodate a combined 13,500 people. Entry is free, but reservation is required through the Paeria eclipse booking page; approved eclipse-viewing glasses will be provided to attendees.

“19 hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds, no more and no less.”Fèlix Larrosa, Mayor of Lleida, on the scheduled start time of the eclipse

Two controlled viewing areas

Plans presented for the event set capacity at 1,500 people at the Seu Vella and 12,000 at Mangraners. Both locations are due to have parking areas, information services and food and drink provision.

  • Seu Vella: capacity of 1,500 people.
  • Mangraners: capacity of 12,000 people, beside the football pitch.
  • Urban transport: the L7 bus route is to be reinforced for access to Mangraners.

Technicians from the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec are expected to provide information for visitors at the sites. Segre reported that the total phase visible from Lleida city is expected to last 25 seconds.

City Council coordinates eclipse arrangements

On 13 March, the Paeria said Mayor Larrosa and Núria Montserrat, the Catalan Government’s Minister for Research and Universities, had met with their teams to coordinate arrangements. The council said Lleida is the largest city in Catalonia from which the phenomenon will be seen best and expects it to attract thousands of people.

Residents and visitors seeking entry to either designated viewing area should make a free reservation through the Paeria’s eclipse booking page before travelling to the Seu Vella or Mangraners.

Reported by Source Text Link, segre.com, Tatiana Fernández, paeria.cat, naciodigital.cat, redacció, ACN, 3CatInfo, news.hostaleriadelleida.com, Lluís Tomàs, Segre.