Festival of San Fermín, Pamplona, Spain

The Festival of San Fermín is a world-famous annual celebration held in Pamplona, the capital of the autonomous region of Navarra in northern Spain. The festival combines religious tradition, cultural pageantry, nightly entertainment, bullfights, and, most famously, the running of the bulls (encierro).

The festival honors Saint Fermín, a 3rd-century Christian martyr who became one of the patron saints of Pamplona. Historically, the festival merges three traditions: the religious commemoration of San Fermín, a seasonal livestock fair, and the practice of herding bulls through the city’s streets.

When and Where It Takes Place

The festival runs every year from 6 July to 14 July in Pamplona.
The official opening, known as the Chupinazo, happens at noon on 6 July. A rocket is launched from the balcony of Pamplona’s City Hall, marking the formal start of the fiesta.
The closing ceremony occurs at midnight on 14 July, when participants gather in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square) to sing “Pobre de mí” (“Poor Me”), often by candlelight.

Running of the Bulls (Encierro)

The most internationally recognized event of San Fermín is the running of the bulls, which takes place each morning from 7 to 14 July at 8:00. The route starts at the Santo Domingo corral and winds through the fenced-off narrow streets of the old quarter for about 850 meters to the bullring (Plaza de Toros), usually in two to three minutes. Each run involves six fighting bulls escorted by steers to keep them on course.

The run is dangerous: 16 people have been killed since records began in 1910, most recently in 2009, and dozens are injured every year. Runners must be at least 18 and sober, and may not carry cameras, phones or bags.

In the afternoon each day from 7 to 14 July, the bulls that ran in the morning take part in bullfights (corridas) at Pamplona’s bullring.

Other Highlights

Every morning the parade of giants and big-heads (Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezudos) winds through the old town, the solemn procession of San Fermín takes place on 7 July, and fireworks light up the sky every night. Most people dress in white with a red sash and neckerchief. Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises (1926) made the fiesta famous around the world. The street events are free, but hotels in Pamplona are booked up months ahead.