
Running Of The Bulls
Monday, July 6, 2026
Pamplona, Spain
Thrill and Tradition of Pamplona's Running of the Bulls
The 2026 Running of the Bulls, part of Pamplona’s famous San Fermín festival, is set to electrify northern Spain from 6 to 14 July 2026, with the legendary bull runs taking place each morning at 8 a.m. from 7 to 14 July along the historic route through Santo Domingo, Ayuntamiento, Mercaderes, and Estafeta streets, ending at the Plaza de Toros. The event kicks off with the vibrant chupinazo, a noon-time rocket launch from the City Hall balcony on 6 July, followed by daily ceremonies, parades, evening bullfights, and nightly fireworks.
Runners, traditionally dressed in white with red scarves, seek both adoration and danger as they race ahead of six charging bulls, their adrenaline-fueled sprints typically lasting less than three minutes over approximately 875 meters. While the spectacle attracts global attention and draws more than a million spectators, it comes with inherent risks, each year hundreds sustain injuries, though fatalities are rare.
Pamplona’s streets transform into a cultural carnival as peñas (local clubs) march with music, giants, and traditional dances, creating a festival atmosphere that lasts throughout the day and into the night. The fiesta culminates at midnight on 14 July with the emotional singing of “Pobre de mí”, a candlelit farewell marking the close of the San Fermín celebrations.
Expect thrilling highs and reflective moments in Pamplona this summer at San Fermín 2026, where devotion, tradition, adrenaline, and community converge in one of Spain’s most iconic and controversial annual events.
