An unexpected announcement was made at the Fundación Cajasol in Seville: César Rincón, one of the most renowned bullfighters of recent decades, is returning to the arena. At 60, he plans to perform in a series of corridas with a special format he calls “pre-Columbian.” According to Rincón, these appearances are aimed at a broad audience and are intended to become a symbol of the universality of bullfighting tradition.
The reason for his return is the situation in Colombia, where a ban on bullfights will soon come into force. Rincón emphasizes that his decision is not financially motivated, but driven by a desire to leave a legacy and support a tradition that, as he says, has shaped the way of life for many generations. He was inspired to return by the example of Antoñete, who also entered the arena at an advanced age, and made his final decision after the October 12 festival organized by Morante in honor of Antoñete at Madrid’s Las Ventas arena.
Mexican manager Guillermo Chapas has joined the project and will accompany Rincón in his new series of performances. Preparing for his return proved to be a serious challenge: according to the bullfighter, he managed to regain the physical condition needed to once again wear the suit in which he bid farewell to the Spanish public almost two decades ago in Barcelona with José Tomás. Rincón’s last official appearance in the ring was in February 2008 in Bogotá, where he performed alongside Enrique Ponce.
The exact dates and locations of the new ‘corridas’ in Colombia have not yet been disclosed—Rincón explained this by saying he did not want to put unnecessary pressure on the organizers. Only his participation in a festival in Istres (France) has been confirmed, which was known in advance. During his appearance in Seville, the torero also expressed regret that Fundación Toro de Lidia, despite significant projects, did not make any attempts to support Colombia during the period of the ban.
Rincón is a figure well-known not only in Spain but also in France and Latin America. His return is drawing interest not just among bullfighting fans but also within cultural circles, where the issue of traditions and their future remains relevant. In this context, it is worth recalling how Spain recently discussed the role of cultural ties with Latin America during the presentation of the Cervantes Prize, as covered in an article about the ceremony in Alcalá de Henares: literary awards and cultural bridges between countries.
