Ricla: A Decade of Splendour

The Ricla Bullfighting Festival (Zaragoza) is one of the most emblematic events in Aragón’s bullfighting calendar and is traditionally known as the spectacle that opens the season in this region. Although previous festivals were held in the town (such as one in 1984 featuring great figures like El Viti and Julio Robles), the modern history of the event is linked to the inauguration of the current bullring, named Braulio Lausín “Gitanillo de Ricla”, on 10 April 1988.

It was a historic occasion that brought together legendary matadors such as Antonio Chenel “Antoñete”, Curro Romero, Rafael de Paula and Luis Francisco Esplá, alongside the Zaragoza-born matador Juan Ramos and the Aragonese novice bullfighter Jesús Sanjuán. They fought young bulls from the prestigious Torrestrella ranch, owned by Don Álvaro Domecq.

After several decades without being staged, Aragonese promoter Ignacio Ríos rescued the festival from obscurity when, ten years ago, he took over the management of this charming bullring, located in the Valdejalón district, just over forty kilometres from Calatayud.

Since 2016, the festival has been held annually in late March or early April. Its arena has welcomed the leading figures of the bullfighting world, including Morante de la Puebla, Talavante, Perera, Cayetano, Diego Urdiales, Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado, as well as distinguished veterans such as Juan Mora and top-class rejoneadores like Diego Ventura and Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza.

The festival is considered a “high-quality” event and remains a benchmark in the province of Zaragoza under the organisation of Espectáculos Taurinos Ríos, which continues to keep the local passion for bullfighting alive alongside the Gitanillo de Ricla Bullfighting Cultural Association.

For the 2026 season, the festival is scheduled for Saturday 28 March at 5:00 pm, featuring the return to the ring of maestro Antonio Sánchez Puerto as its main attraction. A matador from La Mancha, revered by dedicated aficionados, he is still remembered for his performances at Las Ventas in the late 1980s.

Sharing the bill with the matador from Cabezarrubias del Puerto are young talents such as Víctor Hernández, who promises to be one of the sensations of the new season, alongside popular local favourites like La Rioja’s Fabio Jiménez and Zaragoza-born Cristiano Torres, both recently confirmed as matadors.

Completing the line-up is Iker Fernández “El Mene”, a novice bullfighter from Calatayud and leader of his category in 2025, who achieved a resounding triumph in this very bullring last year by cutting a tail from a Jandilla bull. Leading figures, veterans and local talents — a formula that continues to deliver success in Ricla, now and always.