Pamplona in July: The San Fermín Festival and Running of the Bulls

Every July 6–14, Pamplona, Spain erupts in the San Fermín Festival—a nine-day explosion of tradition, adrenaline, and celebration.

The Main Event: Encierro (Running of the Bulls)

• Daily at 8:00 AM (July 7–14).
• Six fighting bulls + six steers released from a corral.
• ~800-meter course through narrow medieval streets to the bullring.
• Hundreds of runners (mozos) sprint ahead, seeking the thrill—and risk—of running alongside 600-kg beasts.
• Danger is real: 15 deaths since 1910; hundreds injured yearly (goring, trampling, falls).

Beyond the Run

• Bullfights (corridas) each afternoon in the Plaza de Toros.
• Parades, concerts, fireworks, traditional dancing (jotas), all-night street parties (peñas).
• Religious core: Procession of Saint Fermín's statue (July 7).

San Fermín blends medieval piety, communal identity, and controlled chaos—drawing global visitors to a week where the line between spectator and participant vanishes.