Official 2026 Madrid bullfighting schedule: San Isidro lineups & tickets

If you are looking for the official Madrid bullfighting schedule for 2026, you have come to the right place. Las Ventas is the “Cathedral of Bullfighting”, and for the San Isidro festival, the “No hay billetes” (Sold out) sign is a daily reality.

While the season is the longest in Spain (March to October), the most prestigious fights featuring superstars like Roca Rey or Borja Jiménez sell out weeks in advance. Below, I’ve broken down the official 2026 calendar and included my personal “Sandra’s Picks” to help you choose the best afternoon for your trip.

Ready to book? If you already have your dates, don’t wait: Check 2026 Madrid ticket availability and prices.

Unsure how to choose? If you don’t know the difference between “Sol” vs. “Sombra” seats in the world’s largest bullring, or you want to avoid the chaotic San Isidro queues, read my complete tutorial: How to buy Madrid bullfight tickets easily and safely.

To help you plan, here is the official Madrid bullfighting schedule for 2026, including the most important dates and lineups.

Quick summary: 2026 Madrid season at a glance

Sandra’s warning: When reviewing the Madrid bullfighting schedule, remember that corridas feature the top stars, while novilladas are for apprentices. If you’re coming to Madrid specifically for the “world-class” experience, make sure you choose a date labeled as a corrida during San Isidro.

The “Spain Festivals” 2026 warning box

Traveling elsewhere? Bullfights happen all over the country. View the complete Bullfighting festivals in Spain calendar.

• Valencia (March 8–19): Fallas Festival, the first major fair of the year.
• Seville (April 5–May 3): The prestigious April Fair (Feria de Abril).
• Pamplona (July 6–14): San Fermín and the world-famous “Running of the Bulls.”
• Málaga (August 15–24): The Feria de Agosto, featuring top-tier summer lineups.

The “Big Three” summary table

Sandra’s tip: The dates above are the “blockbusters” of 2026. Because demand is so high, the official ticketing system can be confusing. For a step-by-step walkthrough on navigating the map and securing your e-tickets, check my guide on [how to buy Madrid bullfight tickets.

The spring warm-up (March 22 – April 26)

The Madrid season starts with “hard” bulls for the true aficionados. If you want to see the power of the animal rather than just the artistry of the matador, these early dates are for you.

San Isidro Festival 2026 (May 8 – June 7)

San Isidro is the World Cup of bullfighting. For 30 straight days, the best of the best appear at Las Ventas.

Warning: Tickets for Fridays and Saturdays usually sell out the moment they go on sale.

Week 1: The kickoff (May 8 – May 14)

Week 2: The masters (May 15 – May 21)

Week 3: The peak (May 22 – May 31)

Summer bullfights at Las Ventas: July and August 2026

Madrid’s summer bullfighting programme is very different from the prestigious San Isidro Festival. Instead of daily events featuring the season’s biggest matadors, Las Ventas moves to evening performances designed to avoid the intense Madrid heat.

July 2026: Cénate Las Ventas novilladas

The main July attraction is Cénate Las Ventas, a competition featuring some of Spain’s most promising young bullfighters.

A novillada is a bullfight in which novilleros—bullfighters who have not yet become fully qualified matadors—face younger bulls known as novillos. These 2026 events are novilladas con picadores, so they follow a format similar to a traditional corrida.

All performances begin at 9:00 pm.

The competition began on June 25 with Álvaro de Chinchón, El Mene and Félix San Román.

But Cénate Las Ventas is more than a bullfight. The plaza opens at 8:00 pm, when you can visit a summer food market selling wines, cheeses, cured meats, empanadas, burgers and other products from the Madrid region. After the performance, the terraces remain open with food, drinks and live entertainment.

Sandra’s tip: These are among the best-value bullfighting tickets of the Madrid season, with some seats available from €6. They are a good choice if you want to experience Las Ventas in a more informal atmosphere without paying San Isidro prices.

Late July and August 2026

After the Cénate Las Ventas final on July 23, the summer programme switches from novilladas to full corridas and rejoneo.

The August 15 corrida, held during Madrid’s Virgen de la Paloma celebrations, is the most traditional date of the month.

Las Ventas has confirmed the dates of its August 2026 programme, but the complete line-ups have not yet been announced. I’ll update this schedule as soon as the toreros, rejoneadores and bull breeders are officially confirmed.

September bullfights and the Feria de Otoño: September 6–October 12, 2026

After the quieter summer programme, bullfighting at Las Ventas returns to its traditional Sunday schedule in September before reaching one of the major highlights of the Madrid season: the Feria de Otoño.

September 2026

September at Las Ventas traditionally has a more serious, bull-focused character than the informal summer events. It can be an excellent time to attend if you are interested in the bulls and breeders as much as the best-known matadors.

Feria de Otoño 2026

The Feria de Otoño will be held in two separate blocks:

• Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4
• Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11

The complete line-ups have not yet been announced, but the autumn fair is traditionally one of the most important events of the Las Ventas season, bringing together leading matadors, promising younger bullfighters and prestigious bull breeders.

Día de la Hispanidad

The 2026 Las Ventas season will end on Monday, October 12 with the traditional Día de la Hispanidad corrida.

This is normally a high-profile event and a popular choice for visitors travelling to Madrid over Spain’s national holiday weekend.

Important: Las Ventas has confirmed the dates of the September programme and Feria de Otoño, but the toreros, novilleros, ganaderías, start times and ticket-sale dates have not yet been published. This schedule will be updated once the complete official line-ups are announced.

The “which fight is for you?” Decision matrix

Pro-tips: Making the most of Las Ventas in 2026

Attending a bullfight at Las Ventas is a ritual with its own set of unwritten rules. To ensure your afternoon is memorable for the right reasons, keep these 2026 updates in mind:

• The “handkerchief” rule: In Madrid, the crowd is the judge. If you see thousands of people waving white handkerchiefs, they’re petitioning the President to award an ear to the matador. Bring a white tissue if you want to join in!
• Rent the cushion (almohadilla): I cannot stress this enough. The seats at Las Ventas are hard stone. As you enter, you’ll see vendors renting leather cushions for a few Euros. It is the best investment you’ll make all day.
• The “arrive early” warning: Madrid traffic is notorious. Aim to be at the plaza de toros at least 45 minutes before the start. Once the first bull enters the ring, the doors are locked, and you won’t be allowed to your seat until the break between bulls.
• Dress code: While there is no official “uniform”, Madrid tends to be more formal than other cities. Avoid beachwear. During San Isidro, you’ll see locals in suits and elegant dresses, dressing up slightly is a sign of respect for the tradition.

Where to sit: The Madrid strategy

• First-timers: Aim for tendido 9 or 10 (Sombra). These sections offer the best balance of shade and a central view of the matador’s work.
• The “hardcore” section: Tendido 7 is where the most demanding (and loudest) aficionados sit. It’s fascinating to watch them, but don’t sit there unless you’re prepared for a very vocal crowd!
• Budget travelers: Andanada Sombra (the very top rows) provides a panoramic “bird’s eye” view. It’s high up, but you’ll stay cool and see the beautiful geometry of the fight for a fraction of the price.

Frequently asked questions: Madrid bullfighting 2026