Nine months to go: on 1 November 2026 there are 274 days until the total solar eclipse of Monday 2 August 2027. In the last two weeks the most important change for travellers was the UK Foreign Office's new advice against all but essential travel to the whole of Saudi Arabia. Egypt's official eclipse conference in Luxor has dates, the eclipse-glasses standard is still the 2015 edition, and no new glasses recalls were published. This is our first countdown digest; it covers 18 October to 1 November 2026. From now on we publish one every Sunday.
Last updated: 1 November 2026 (all items checked on 1 November 2026)
What changed this fortnight?
| Date | What changed | Who it matters for |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 2026 | UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to all of Saudi Arabia | Anyone planning Jeddah, Mecca, Taif or Abha |
| 27 Oct 2026 | UK Foreign Office updates Egypt advice (regional tensions); Luxor and the Nile Valley are not covered by any warning | Egypt travellers |
| 28 Oct 2026 | NRIAG's Luxor eclipse page lists the conference on 3 to 5 August 2027 and a hackathon closing on 15 November 2026 | Egypt travellers, students |
| 1 Nov 2026 (check) | ISO 12312-2:2015 is still the current eclipse-glasses standard; the new edition is still waiting for its final vote | Everyone buying glasses |
| 1 Nov 2026 (check) | No new eclipse-glasses alerts found in the EU or Spain; the AAS supplier list has not changed since August | Everyone buying glasses |
What does the new Saudi Arabia travel advice mean for the eclipse?
On 27 October 2026 the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its Saudi Arabia page because of regional tensions. It now advises against all travel within 10 km of the border with Yemen and against "all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia". It also reports that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh "was struck by a missile on 10 October 2026" and warns that further attacks on airports and cancellations are "very likely". The page was still current on 31 October.
The whole Saudi part of the path of totality, including Jeddah, Mecca, Taif and Abha, is covered by that advice. Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate travel insurance. Nine months is a long time and advice can change in both directions, so if Saudi Arabia is in your plans, check your own government's advice and your insurer before you pay anything non-refundable. Our path of totality map, country by country shows the alternatives in North Africa and Spain.
Is Egypt still open for the eclipse?
Yes. The FCDO also updated its Egypt page on 27 October ("regional tensions"), but it gives no warning against travel to Luxor or the Nile Valley. Its advice against all but essential travel west of the Nile Valley still makes exceptions for Siwa and the oasis towns of Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga; the road between Bahariya and Siwa remains under all-but-essential advice.
Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) updated its Luxor eclipse page on 28 October. It lists an International Conference on Solar Physics and Space Weather in Luxor from 3 to 5 August 2027, with registration details "coming soon", and an eclipse hackathon whose registration closes on 15 November 2026. Official viewing sites have not been published yet. Our guide to where to watch the eclipse in Egypt goes live on 2 November, and the Egypt eclipse tours roundup shows which packages were still bookable when we last checked.
Has the eclipse-glasses standard changed?
No. ISO's page for ISO 12312-2:2015 still says it "remains current" (stage 90.92, to be revised). The revised edition, ISO/FDIS 12312-2, has been at stage 50.00 (final text registered for formal approval) since 24 June 2026, with no vote or publication date announced. Glasses certified to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 with the CE mark are what to look for. Our article ISO 12312-2 explained shows how to check a certificate.
We found no new eclipse-glasses alert in the EU Safety Gate or from Spanish consumer authorities in October. The American Astronomical Society's list of suppliers has not been modified since 5 August 2026. If you kept glasses from 2026, read whether they can be reused in 2027.
Anything new in Spain and Morocco?
Nothing official in the fortnight itself. Just before it, on 8 October, Spain's Ministry of Science said its interministerial commission for the 2026 to 2028 eclipses had started preparing for 2027; no 2027 glasses distribution has been announced. Morocco remains on GMT (UTC+0) all year since 20 September 2026, with no summer time announced for 2027, so Moroccan eclipse times are one hour behind the mainland Spanish clock. In Tangier, for example, maximum eclipse is at about 08:47 local time.
We rewrote our guide to the total eclipse in Spain today, with a map of the path and times for 37 places.
What did we publish in the last two weeks?
- Where the 2 August 2027 eclipse is total: the path of totality country by country, with map
- What time is the eclipse? Start, peak and end times in 125 cities
- City guides: Gibraltar and Málaga
- Solar eclipse 2027 in Germany
- 2027 eclipse cruises and Egypt eclipse tours
- Why the 2027 eclipse lasts 6 minutes 23 seconds
- A classroom kit and four-lesson plan for schools
Tember eclipse glasses are certified to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 and carry the CE mark; the documents are on our compliance documents page. See the glasses.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until the 2027 total solar eclipse?
On 1 November 2026 there are 274 days to go. The eclipse is on Monday 2 August 2027.
Can I still travel to Saudi Arabia for the eclipse?
Since 27 October 2026 the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Saudi Arabia, which can affect travel insurance. Check your own government's advice and your insurer before booking.
Is Luxor affected by the new Egypt travel advice?
No. The FCDO's Egypt update of 27 October 2026 does not warn against travel to Luxor or the Nile Valley.
Is there a new ISO standard for eclipse glasses?
Not yet. ISO 12312-2:2015 is still current; the revised edition is waiting for its final approval vote, with no date announced.
What time is the eclipse in Morocco now that it uses GMT?
Morocco has stayed on GMT (UTC+0) since 20 September 2026. In Tangier, maximum eclipse is at about 08:47 local time on 2 August 2027.
Sources
- UK FCDO: Saudi Arabia, warnings and insurance (updated 27 October 2026)
- UK FCDO: Egypt, warnings and insurance (updated 27 October 2026)
- NRIAG: Luxor eclipse 2027 (conference and hackathon)
- ISO 12312-2:2015 and ISO/FDIS 12312-2
- American Astronomical Society: suppliers of safe solar viewers
- Spanish Ministry of Science, 8 October 2026: the eclipse commission prepares for 2027
- Morocco World News: Morocco moves permanently to GMT