Valdemorillo opens the 2026 bullfighting season
The cold of winter is still in our bones, yet in the heart of December the bullfighting year is already beginning to awaken. Several fairs have been announced, but Valdemorillo, as always, sets the standard — both in timing and in prestige. The San Blas Fair already has its official line-ups. The 2026 season has begun!
Amid the early rush by promoters to unveil the first posters of the new season this winter, Valdemorillo will once again be the fair that fires the opening shot. Spain’s first bullfighting fair of the year, which has featured leading matadors for several seasons now, presents an attractive and carefully selected programme in its upcoming edition — ideal for shaking off the winter break.
Far removed from the harsh weather conditions of the past, the Candelaria bullring is fully covered, heated and offers spacious seating, allowing spectators to enjoy the spectacle in comfort without worrying about the weather. As a result, the Valdemorillo season ticket is no longer reserved solely for the most dedicated fans; it has grown in prestige and stature and has become one of the most important social events — not just bullfighting events — of the start of the year.
In 2026, the season ticket covers 6, 7 and 8 February, creating an appealing winter weekend. The programme begins on Friday with a novillada with picadors (a bullfight featuring young bulls and emerging matadors), followed by two full bullfights on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, both offering strong sporting interest.
The fair opens with a novillada featuring bulls from Jiménez Pasquau, a breeding farm that has enjoyed notable success in recent seasons. The six young bullfighters taking part are Álvaro Serrano, winner of the Madrid Community circuit; Mario Vilau, champion of the National Novillada League; Julio Méndez, named Novillero of the Year in Madrid; Sergio Rollón, returning to the ring after suffering the most serious injury of 2025; Félix San Román, closely linked to Valdemorillo; and Samuel Castrejón, winner of the Kilómetro Cero and Road to Las Ventas competitions, who will also make his debut with picadors in this event.
Saturday 7th features a highly anticipated clash between two of the most outstanding young matadors of recent years: Borja Jiménez and Tomás Rufo. Borja Jiménez, who has opened the famous Great Gate at Madrid’s Las Ventas for three consecutive seasons in emphatic fashion, has long been challenging the established elite. Tomás Rufo, meanwhile, represents and leads the new generation of matadors aiming to take over the major fairs. They will face bulls from El Capea, last year’s standout breeder, as well as Fuente Ymbro and Hermanos García Jiménez — all proven guarantees of quality and excitement.
The programme concludes on Sunday 8th with three highly artistic matadors: José Ignacio Uceda Leal, Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado. Three bullfighters renowned for their style and elegance, offering spectators the chance to enjoy bullfighting as a true art form — with rhythm, depth and personality expressed through the cape and the muleta. They will face a bull run from Torrealta, a breeder with a long and respected history, perfectly suited to this type of line-up.
It feels like only yesterday that the 2025 season came to a close in Jaén, and yet, almost without realising it, 2026 is already stepping out of the bull pens. Fasten your belts and unfurl the capes — the action is here!
Ticket sales information for Valdemorillo:
Tickets can be purchased at servitoro.com or by calling +34 96 330 85 93 Monday to Friday from 9am to 6.30pm, or via WhatsApp on +34 647 66 93 71.
Jose Miguel Arruego
Bullfighting Journalist
