Chicago, IL – Skywatchers across the Midwest will be the best-positioned Americans to experience the most dramatic eclipse of 2026, with geography and timing aligning to deliver near-ideal viewing conditions across much of the region.
According to astronomical forecasts, four eclipses will occur in 2026, including two solar and two lunar eclipses. For the Midwest, the clear highlight is the March total lunar eclipse, which will offer longer, darker, and higher-in-the-sky views than nearly anywhere else in the country.
🌕 March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse (Prime Viewing Across the Midwest)
The headline sky event of 2026 will be a total lunar eclipse, and the Midwest sits squarely in the heart of the strongest 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 Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, and Nebraska are expected to see all phases of the eclipse, including a prolonged deep red “Blood Moon.”
Cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Madison, Omaha, and Lincoln will see the Moon high above the horizon during peak totality — a major advantage over the East Coast, where the Moon will be setting.
👉 Lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.
🌞 August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse (Partial Across the Midwest)
A major total solar eclipse will cross Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain later in the year. Across the Midwest, the event will appear only as a partial solar eclipse.
During the late morning hours, the Sun will appear partially obscured across the region. 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 across the Midwest, though only modest shadowing of the Moon is expected.
🧭 Midwest Eclipse Takeaway
- ⭐ Best U.S. region: Midwest for March 3 lunar eclipse
- 👀 Viewing quality: Exceptional — longest and darkest totality
- ☀️ Solar eclipse: Partial only
