Louisville, KY / Nashville, TN – Skywatchers across Kentucky and Tennessee will be among the best-positioned Americans to see the most dramatic eclipse of 2026, with viewing conditions expected to outperform much of the East Coast and rival the strongest areas of the Central United States.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. For both states, the clear standout is the March total lunar eclipse, which should be visible in full across nearly all locations.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Excellent Viewing in KY & TN)
This is the top eclipse event of 2026 for U.S. residents, and Kentucky and Tennessee sit firmly within the prime viewing corridor.
According to eclipse timing data, the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow during the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. Viewers in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Clarksville are expected to see all phases of the eclipse, including a prolonged deep red “Blood Moon” during totality.
Unlike states farther east, the Moon will remain high enough above the horizon during peak totality to allow for extended viewing and clearer photos.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial in KY & TN)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain later in the year. In Kentucky and Tennessee, the event will appear as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will be partially obscured across both states. Certified solar eclipse glasses are required for safe viewing.
🌕 August 27–28, 2026 — Partial Lunar Eclipse
A second lunar eclipse later in the summer will also be visible from Kentucky and Tennessee, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected.
🧭 Kentucky & Tennessee Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best local event: March 3 total lunar eclipse
- 👀 Viewing quality: Excellent — among the strongest in the U.S.
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial locally; totality occurs overseas
