The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center has revealed that 2026 will be an exceptionally rich astronomical year, featuring a series of rare and prominent celestial events ranging from solar and lunar eclipses to meteor showers and distinctive lunar phenomena.
The center said these events carry significant scientific and observational value, particularly for amateur astronomers and science enthusiasts. It noted that the visibility of each phenomenon from Kuwait will vary depending on the path and geographic location of the event, reports Al-Rai daily.
“These phenomena are not only visually striking but also scientifically important, offering valuable opportunities for observation and learning,” the report said.
The first major event of the year will be an annular solar eclipse on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at approximately 3:00 pm Kuwait time.
However, the center clarified that this eclipse will not be visible in Kuwait, as its path is concentrated over Antarctica, South Africa and Chile.
This will be followed by a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at around 2:00 pm Kuwait time. The eclipse will again be invisible from Kuwait, with visibility focused on the Pacific Ocean and western North America. During its peak, the moon will be completely immersed in Earth’s shadow, with about 1.15 times its diameter covered, causing the moon’s disk to disappear entirely.
Mid-year will bring a dramatic total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at approximately 6:34 pm Kuwait time. The path of this eclipse will stretch across the Arctic Ocean, Greenland and the North Atlantic, reaching Spain, Albania and parts of North Africa. It will not be visible from Kuwait.
The most significant event for skywatchers in Kuwait will be the partial lunar eclipse at dawn on Friday, August 28, 2026. The eclipse will begin at 4:23 am, with sunrise coinciding at 5:23 am, and the partial phase ending around 5:28 am.
This eclipse will also be visible across large areas of Africa and the Americas, making it a major global event as well.
The report highlighted that 2026 will feature several well-known meteor showers visible at different times of the year:
The Quadrantid meteor shower will be active on the nights of January 3 and 4, marking one of the most active showers of the year’s beginning.
The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on April 22, and is considered moderate in intensity.
On May 6, the Aquariid meteor shower, linked to the remnants of Halley’s Comet, will be best observed after midnight.
The year’s highlight will be the Perseid meteor shower on the nights of August 12 and 13, famed for its bright, fast-moving meteors and high activity.
Adding to the year’s celestial charm, May 2026 will witness a rare lunar phenomenon, with two full moons in a single month — the first on May 1 and the second on May 31.
The second full moon is known as a “Blue Moon,” a relatively rare occurrence that happens when a month contains two full moons.
The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center concluded that these events underscore the astronomical richness of 2026 and highlight the importance of organized scientific observation.
It called on enthusiasts and the public to follow these phenomena using sound astronomical guidelines and to take advantage of them to promote scientific knowledge and spread astronomical culture in society.
The following are the major astronomical events in 2026
- February 17 — Annular solar eclipse
- March 3 — Total lunar eclipse
- April 22 — Lyrid meteor shower
- May 6 — Aquariid meteor shower
- May 31 — Blue Moon
- August 12 — Total solar eclipse
- August 28 — Partial lunar eclipse (visible in Kuwait)
