Soria at San Juan: The Bull as the Soul, Ritual and Passion of a People

Soria cannot be understood without its Fiestas de San Juan, and San Juan itself is inconceivable without the presence of the bull. For five exhilarating days, the city on the banks of the River Duero is completely transformed, embracing a collective celebration where music, wine, the local Cuadrillas (traditional neighbourhood associations) and bullfighting merge into a single spirit.

The Beginning of Everything: Miércoles de Pregón (Opening Proclamation Wednesday)

The explosion of festivities begins with a sacred moment: Miércoles de Pregón (Opening Proclamation Wednesday). As evening falls, Soria’s Plaza Mayor becomes a sea of anticipation and emotion, reaching its peak when the Jurados (elected representatives) of the twelve Cuadrillas appear on the balcony of the Town Hall.

The official Pregón (opening proclamation) marks the start of the most eagerly awaited days of the year. It is the moment when collective joy is unleashed and the first sanjuaneras (traditional songs of the San Juan Festival) are sung. This day symbolises the opening of Soria’s heart to an ancestral tradition in which ritual, community and the bull will take centre stage over the coming days.

The Heart of Tradition: La Saca de Soria

With the festival already in full swing, Soria’s bullfighting mystique reaches its climax on Jueves de La Saca (La Saca Thursday). This is far more than a popular celebration; it is an ancient ritual that connects people with nature and tradition. The Amigos de la Saca (Friends of La Saca Association) carefully select a group of strong, well-matched bulls perfectly suited to the demanding journey ahead.

At exactly midday, the pens of Cañada Honda, located in the natural area of Valonsadero, are opened. Horsemen, runners and tame cattle come together in a unique human and animal procession to guide the twelve Toros de San Juan (San Juan bulls) across several kilometres of open countryside towards the Plaza de Toros de San Benito.

The arrival at the bullring is an unmatched explosion of joy and excitement, providing the perfect prelude to the deeply rooted Viernes de Toros (Bull Friday), when those same bulls are fought in the arena before thousands of passionate spectators.

The Peñas Sanjuaneras: The Driving Force Behind the Festival

While the Cuadrillas provide the traditional neighbourhood structure of the festivities, Soria’s Peñas (social and festive clubs) – such as El Bullicio, La Ilusión, El Cuadro, Los Que Faltaban, Las Casas and El Desbarajuste – are responsible for filling every corner of the city with colour, energy and music.

After warming up for the festivities during major gatherings such as Interpeñas (a large meeting of the different peñas), their members prove that they are the true backbone of the celebration.

Their connection to bullfighting is absolute. Their massive presence in the stands of the bullring, proudly displaying their waistcoats, flags and charangas (traditional brass and percussion bands), transforms every bullfight into a spectacle unlike any other in Spain.

In Soria, the crowd does not simply watch. The spectators sing, dance, share food and drink, and encourage the matadors to perform at their very best. It is the peñas themselves, together with local bullfighting associations, that safeguard the authenticity of the fair and award the official trophies to the most successful performers of the festival.

A Fair Looking to the Future: A Commitment to Complete Spectacle

Promoter Tauroemoción has designed a bullfighting fair that stands out for its balance and, above all, for its close connection with the audience. This year’s programme includes a feature the company has long sought to establish as a key part of its season tickets: the eagerly anticipated cartel de banderilleros (a line-up featuring specialists renowned for their skill with the banderillas).

Spectacle and Excitement

This type of bullfighting line-up brings together matadors known for their expertise across all three stages of the bullfight and for their spectacular work with the banderillas (decorated sticks placed in the bull’s shoulders). Headlined by celebrated figures such as Antonio Ferrera and El Fandi, it aims to maximise excitement from the very beginning of each contest.

Youth and Success

Alongside this commitment to spectacle, the fair also features some of the most promising and successful young names in modern bullfighting. Matadors such as Borja Jiménez, David de Miranda and Ismael Martín, who have recently excelled in prestigious arenas such as Seville and Madrid, represent the future of the sport while bringing determination and ambition to the ring.

San Juan 2026 promises, once again, to be that wonderful anomaly where respect for tradition and uninhibited celebration go hand in hand. The whole city of Soria is already waiting for the sounds of the local de cuadrilla (the meeting place of each Cuadrilla), the galloping horses of Valonsadero, and the roar of the crowd inside its bullring.

Because in this land, being sanjuanero (a participant in and devotee of the San Juan Festival) is a source of immense pride, and the bull is the heartbeat that makes it all possible.