Jaén, Closing the Spanish Bullfighting Season

Jaén traditionally marks the end of the Spanish bullfighting season. The last major fair of the year, the final series of events in a second-category ring, has in recent times been reduced to just a couple of festivities. However, Tauroemoción, the company managing La Alameda bullring, has shown creativity and solid judgement to ensure that the San Lucas season does not lose its importance and impact.

This approach continues in 2024, where for the first time, instead of scheduling the events back-to-back, they are spread over two weekends: Saturday, 13 October, and Sunday, 19 October. Both festivities follow a thematic structure. The first event brings back the traditional “banderilleros” bullfight, popular in the 1980s and highly successful for bullfighting companies. The closing event features the excitement of Victorino bulls.

On Saturday, 13 October, Antonio Ferrera, David Fandila “El Fandi”, and Manuel Escribano are on the bill. These are three experienced matadors with a wide range of skills, but they all share athleticism, versatility, and a flair for the spectacle of the second tercio (the banderillas phase). This event is ideal for all audiences, particularly for newcomers to the world of bullfighting. The bulls to be fought come from the El Torero and Fuente Ymbro ranches.

The following Sunday, 19 October, brings the Victorino bulls to the ring. The highlight of this event is the presence of Diego Ventura, the leading figure in the world of rejoneo (bullfighting on horseback), who has already triumphed against bulls of less common breeds in this discipline. He now takes on the challenge of facing Victorino’s crowned bulls before the Jaén audience.

In addition, one of the most celebrated matadors of the year, Emilio de Justo, will be part of the line-up. He is a specialist in this breed and these bulls, having first gained recognition in France before rising to prominence. Joining him will be Curro Díaz, a unique artist with an exquisite style and original interpretation of bullfighting, who has also achieved notable successes with this breed.

The San Lucas programme also includes a practical class on 6 October and a comedic bullfighting show with recortadores and a livestock release on Friday, 18 October. These are the last “official” events of the season, which, as always, comes to a close in La Alameda. Jaén, closing the bullfighting year in Spain.