The 2026 El Pilar fair will pay tribute to Carlos Val Carreres, former chief surgeon of the infirmary at La Misericordia bullring and one of the most renowned figures in bullfighting surgery in Spain. Both the honoree's career and the family connection spanning generations with the infirmary at the Zaragoza bullring were highlighted: "We have been providing services in the infirmary at La Misericordia bullring for many years now, starting with my grandfather, then my father, myself and my daughter," the honoree said.
"It is a first-rate fair, worthy of the bullring, with top figures from the ranks, prominent Aragonese names and ranches that have also been absent in recent years and offer great appeal," said Pablo Alonso, manager of Conphia Urbana, the company that runs La Misericordia Bullring. In that regard, they wanted to give prominence to Aragonese bullfighting: "We have backed the Aragonese sector, both with the Los Maños ranch and with Cristiano Torres, Aarón and El Mene, with his alternative," Alonso said.
There are no events scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, or Thursday, October 14, in the bullfighting fair program. Alonso said the priority had been to focus on quality: "We would have liked to stage more events, but we decided to concentrate them. Next year, we will consider holding fewer events."
SEASON TICKETS AND TICKETS
Season-ticket holders will be able to keep their subscriptions, organizers said. Both season tickets and those specifically for El Pilar can be renewed under the new format without losing their seats.
Season-ticket renewals will take place from September 14 to 19, while those wishing to subscribe to this series for the first time will have to wait until September 21, when the application period for new subscribers opens. Individual tickets will be available from September 28, while tickets for the traditional events will go on sale from the 14th.
FULL PROGRAM FOR THE 2026 EL PILAR BULLFIGHTING FAIR
- Saturday, October 10. Novillada with picadors. Mario Vilau, Jesús Yglesias and David Sejas with novillos from Los Maños - Sunday, October 11. Bullfight. José María Manzanares, Alejandro Talavante and Cristiano Torres with bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo and La Ventana del Puerto - Monday, October 12. Bullfight. Miguel Ángel Perera, Daniel Luque and David de Miranda with bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq - Thursday, October 15. Bullfight. Emilio de Justo, Borja Jiménez and Tomás Rufo with bulls from Montalvo - Friday, October 16. Bullfight. Morante de la Puebla, Sebastián Castella and Aarón Palacio with bulls from Hermanos García Jiménez and Olga Jiménez Fernández - Saturday, October 17. Bullfight. Morante de la Puebla, Diego Urdiales and El Mene (alternative) with bulls from José Vázquez, Zalduendo, Victoriano del Rio, Garcigrande, Alcurrucén and Carmen Lorenzo - Sunday, October 18. Rejoneo bullfight. Rui Fernandes, Diego Ventura and Duarte Fernandes with bulls from Ángel Sánchez y Sánchez
FULL PROGRAM FOR TRADITIONAL BULLFIGHTING EVENTS
- From Sunday, October 11, to Sunday, October 18, 8:00 a.m.: young bulls. - Sunday, October 11, 11:00 p.m.: 40th Spanish Roscaderos Championship. - Monday, October 12, 11:30 a.m.: Spanish Goyesque Bull Recortes Championship. - Tuesday, October 13, 11:30 a.m.: tame-bull run. - Wednesday, October 14, 10:00 a.m.: young bulls for minors. - Friday, October 16, 11:00 p.m.: emboladores competition with Arriazu capons and a special event with obstacles. - Saturday, October 17, 11:30 a.m.: Grand Prix, 2026 Aragon Championship. - Saturday, October 17, 11:00 p.m.: 14th Bull Recortes with Fire Bulls Competition. - Sunday, October 18, 11:30 a.m.: 43rd Spanish Ring Recortadores Championship.
