Today, April 23, in Seville, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is once again sold out: there are no tickets left for the twelfth bullfight of the 2026 Feria de Abril. The evening promises to be intense—three famous matadors will face off in the arena: José María Manzanares, Roca Rey, and the young Javier Zulueta. They will take on bulls from Victoriano del Río Cortés, one of Madrid’s most renowned herds.
The bullfight is scheduled to begin at 18:30, and Maestranza, with a capacity of 12,500 spectators, is, as usual, packed to the brim. For Manzanares, this is a chance to redeem himself after an unsuccessful performance on Tuesday, when the audience greeted him with silence. Roca Rey enters the ring for the second time this week: last time, he managed to claim one ear despite difficult bulls. Zulueta, the youngest participant of the evening, is known for his classical style and is performing in this lineup at such a major event for the first time.
Broadcast and interest in the event
Those who couldn’t get into the arena can follow the bullfight live: the broadcast is available on the regional À Punt TV channel and via the One Toro TV platform. The strong interest in the event is explained not only by the names of the participants, but also by the fact that Maestranza has already given spectators some spectacular moments this year. For example, yesterday David de Miranda left the arena through the Puerta del Príncipe for the second year in a row, and Diego Urdiales’ performance sparked debate among aficionados.
Feria de Abril 2026 Calendar
Feria de Abril in Seville is not just about today’s corrida. From April 11 to 26, the Maestranza hosts a series of performances featuring the country’s leading bullfighters. On different days, the arena has seen names like Morante de la Puebla, Alejandro Talavante, and Daniel Luque, as well as special bouts, including mano a mano and bullfighting on horseback. Tomorrow, April 24, Daniel Luque, Juan Ortega, and Pablo Aguado are expected to perform with bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq, and the series will conclude on April 26 with the traditional corrida featuring Miura bulls.
Context and interest in Seville
Feria de Abril traditionally becomes one of the most prominent spring events in Andalusia, attracting not only locals but also tourists from across the country. This year, interest in Seville is especially high: the city has already become the focus of attention thanks to other major events, such as football matches recently covered by russpain.com in a piece about the Levante vs. Sevilla rivalry in Valencia — details on the fight for survival in LaLiga.
Maestranza remains a symbol of tradition and spectacle for all of Spain. Every evening of Feria de Abril is not only a sporting competition, but also part of the region’s cultural life, where every appearance in the arena can become historic.
