The fifth running of the bulls at San Fermín 2026 in Pamplona, held on 11 July, was the longest and most crowded of this year's festival. José Escolar's bulls completed the 875-meter course in 2 minutes and 36 seconds. The tightly packed herd moved through the historic city center as runners struggled to find space and avoid the animals. The large Saturday-morning crowd added to the risks. At least nine people were injured, including one with a horn wound.
This encierro marked the José Escolar ranch's eleventh consecutive appearance at Sanfermines, where it has become known for imposing bulls and high-stakes runs. The six bulls, Cantito, Carpintero, Chismoso, Secretario, Tomillero, and Campanero, weighed between 570 and 615 kilos and stayed in a compact formation along the route. Their combined listed weight was 3,580 kilos, averaging about 596.7 kilos per bull. Their size and close formation left little room for runners, contributing to several pile-ups and falls, especially in the narrowest sections.
Most of the injured suffered bruises and trauma, continuing a trend from previous days. Over the first four encierros, around thirty men required medical attention. The most serious incident was a goring on the third day that left a young runner hospitalized. On Saturday, images showed a runner trapped between a bull and a steer, narrowly escaping further harm.
The José Escolar bulls are known for their distinctive appearance: large frames, prominent horns and fierce expressions. This year's herd included Cantito (590 kg), Carpintero (610 kg), Chismoso (615 kg), Secretario (570 kg), Tomillero (595 kg), and Campanero (600 kg). The animals advanced with few gaps between them, making it harder for runners to keep pace alongside or ahead of the group. Despite the risks, the event continues to attract female runners, estimated to make up 6% of participants.
RTVE broadcast the spectacle live, offering viewers multiple camera angles from basic points along the route, including Corrales, Santo Domingo, Ayuntamiento, Mercaderes, Estafeta, Telefónica, Callejón, and Plaza. The broadcast captured the run's intensity and unpredictability, with scenes of runners dodging horns and scrambling to their feet after falls.
The José Escolar ranch, based in Ávila, has been a fixture at Sanfermines since its debut in 2015. The bulls are raised on the Monte Valdetiétar estate, where they spend four to five years before being selected for major events in Pamplona and Madrid. The ranch is one of only two in Spain to maintain the pure Victorino Martín Andrés bloodline within the Albaserrada lineage. This year, the Casa de Misericordia will honor José Escolar with the award for best bullfight at the 2025 Feria del Toro. The breeder calls the recognition a source of pride and a sign of its relationship with Pamplona.
San Fermín's encierros are renowned for their speed and danger. This year's runs have been particularly fast, though Saturday's took longer. The festival continues to draw thrill-seekers and tradition enthusiasts despite the ever-present risks. An El País archive article from 1983 discussed the dangers of the run and recalled the deaths of two people during Pamplona's “domingo-negro” in 1980. For context on how the festival began this year, including the role of emergency services and the challenges posed by record crowds, see the report on Pamplona's launch of San Fermín 2026.
San Fermín is one of Spain's most iconic festivals, drawing visitors from around the world. The encierro, or running of the bulls, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in local culture and ritual, and staged as a public spectacle. Each morning at 8:00, a rocket signals the start of the run as participants and bulls race through the barricaded streets toward the bullring. Medical teams and security personnel monitor the event and respond to injuries. The risks are well known, but the encierro continues to captivate locals and tourists, making it a defining moment of the Spanish summer.
