An Unmissable Classic

The town of Arroyo de la Encomienda – La Flecha, in the province of Valladolid, celebrates ten years of solidarity in 2026. It has been a decade since the company Tauroemoción, led by Alberto García, turned this event into a true early-season classic, while also supporting the Valladolid Multiple Sclerosis Association, for whose benefit this bullfight is held.

One of the keys to the success of this event lies in the strong and committed support it has received from the leading figures of bullfighting since its very first edition. Almost all the top-ranked matadors have contributed to the consolidation of this event, and La Flecha has welcomed bullfighters from all levels, making this Castilian venue a regular meeting point to prepare for the first major engagements of the year.

And as a tenth anniversary is not celebrated every day, there is no better way to mark the occasion than with the usual prestige and quality, this time in the form of a full corrida rather than the festival format of previous years. At Tauroemoción, it has always been a point of pride that anniversaries and special dates should be celebrated in grand style.

This season’s event will take place on Saturday, 28 February, at 5.30 pm, and, as is now customary, features three top-level matadors. Opening the bill is the French star Sebastián Castella, the greatest bullfighting figure France has produced, with a long and outstanding career in the world’s major bullrings. He recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as a matador.

The second name on the line-up is Alejandro Talavante, who celebrates 20 years since taking his alternativa this year. He is another essential figure in understanding the last two decades of bullfighting history, having left his mark both in Europe and the Americas, with Madrid — where it all began — at the heart of his career. Like Castella, Talavante also boasts six Puertas Grandes at Las Ventas.

Closing the line-up is the very young Marco Pérez, who has already appeared several times at La Flecha since his early days as a novice. Now fully established as a matador after taking his alternativa last season, he is striving to lead the so-called new generation — the group aiming to progressively establish itself across the main bullfighting fairs and usher in a new era for the sport. It will be fascinating to see how the young contender measures himself against the established stars.

The bulls will come from the Zacarías Moreno breeding farm, based in the Community of Madrid. In recent years, this cattle ranch has earned a prominent position in major arenas, where its bulls show the right type, strength and bravery, often leading to significant successes. For this reason, it is a breeding farm increasingly in demand among professionals.

And although there are hardly any excuses not to attend, it is worth adding that the bullring is covered and heated, located just a short distance from the city of Valladolid, with excellent transport connections. Both in Valladolid itself and in the surrounding towns, there is a wide range of restaurants ideal for lunch and/or dinner before and after the bullfight. All that’s missing now is your ticket.