Six ears and three gorings close San Fermín 2026: Jandilla bulls deliver a frantic final run and a controversial corrida
The last running of the bulls left three men gored and 12 injured, while the afternoon bullfight saw Tomás Rufo cut four ears and Juan Ortega deliver the day's finest artistry.
The morning run: speed, falls and three gorings
Pamplona closed the San Fermín festival on 14 July 2026 with a fast and dangerous eighth encierro, run by bulls from the Jandilla ranch. The herd completed the course in 2 minutes and 25 seconds, continuing a year in which no run exceeded three minutes. Three runners were gored: one in the thigh near the City Hall, one in the thorax at the Telefónica curve, and a third inside the bullring itself. A total of 12 people were injured, nine of whom required hospital transfer. Cruz Roja reported 36 attendances across the morning, with 11 hospital transfers; two of those were horn wounds, alongside contusions, trampling injuries and dislocations.
The Jandilla bulls, marking their 25th appearance at the festival, broke from Santo Domingo in a tight pack. Two black bulls surged ahead of the bell-oxen on the slope, and one veered right at the City Hall, ploughing into several runners. On Estafeta Street a chestnut bull slipped and fell onto a group of mozos, while at Telefónica another charged a cluster of runners, causing the thoracic goring that medics flagged as potentially serious. The remaining animals entered the bullring cleanly, though several runners fell in the alleyway.
The Jandilla bulls have crowned San Fermín 2026 living up to their reputation, goring two men along the route.
The afternoon corrida: a six-ear haul
By evening the same six bulls were fought in the ring by matadors Juan Ortega, Andrés Roca Rey and Tomás Rufo. The Jandilla herd, described across Spanish press as the bravest and most complete of the festival, produced animals that charged long, willingly and with high quality. Rufo drew the standout lot and was awarded four ears, exiting through the Puerta Grande on shoulders.
His first bull, Castigado, was granted a lap of honour in the drag. Rufo opened with a kneeing farol and worked the muleta largely on the outer edge, though several critics noted he stayed below the animal's quality. The second, Oyente, offered a dream left horn, yet Rufo placed himself on that side for only one ordinary series before sealing the popular triumph with more knee-work and flourishes aimed at the partisan crowd, many of whom were already leaving to watch Spain's national team play.
Rufo was below the quality of the bull, however much, in this monumental plaza with portable-stand criteria, he was given those two ears.
Juan Ortega's contrasting purity
Juan Ortega, with the less gifted lot, produced what several outlets called the authentic and best toreo of the afternoon. His first bull, Zarabanda, gave a handful of noble, low charges, and Ortega matched it with slow, seated muleta work amid the constant murmur of the crowd. A fallen sword of rapid effect let him walk one ear. The fourth bull came and went, low on caste, and Ortega built a task trying to break through its reluctance. Reviewers praised his commitment, citing with truth and carrying the animal's sparse charges with command.
Ortega sought slowness amid the constant murmur, calm in the noise, toreo in the hubbub.
The Jandilla prize and the festival's end
The Jandilla ranch revalidated its prestige by winning the Carriquiri Prize for the bravest bull of Sanfermines 2025, announced on the same day. The morning's seven animals ranged from 555 kg (Pañero) to 600 kg (Adinerado), with Castigado listed at 656 kg in one report. The run drew fewer participants than usual despite the 14 July French national holiday, which typically brings cross-border visitors.
- Run starts from Santo Domingo after three traditional chants; herd exits tightly grouped with bell-oxen leading.
- Two black bulls surge ahead; one veers right and gores a runner in the inner thigh, ploughing into several mozos.
- A bull tries to charge a fallen runner; the herd skids into the turn and the pace remains breakneck.
- A chestnut bull slips and falls onto a group of runners, forming a pile-up; multiple snags of horns on shirts and bodies.
- A bull charges a cluster of runners, causing a thoracic goring described by medics as potentially serious.
- Herd enters cleanly; a third goring occurs inside the plaza. Total run time: 2 minutes 25 seconds.
Cruz Roja's wider figures for the preceding 24 hours showed 34 attendances at the Recoletas first-aid units with no urgent transfers, 17 people treated in the street (13 taken to hospital), and 28 seen by preventive services without need for transfer. The festival concluded with the traditional "Pobre de mí" farewell.
