Fernando Adrián receives the first ear at San Isidro 2026 in Madrid. At the Las Ventas arena, Fernando Adrián won an ear after a tense performance with the third bull. Fortes was injured but continued competing. The tournament took place before a full house.
The seventh tournament of the Feria de San Isidro 2026 took place at Las Ventas in Madrid, where Fernando Adrian became the only matador to be awarded an ear. His performance with the third bull from the El Torero ranch stood out as the most notable event of the evening: the audience was divided in opinion, while the torero managed to handle the difficult animal, which was reluctant to fully engage.
The third bull, 'ENCARCELADO', was striking with its serious appearance and sharp horns. From the very start, it displayed a challenging character: attacking from the inside and not always lowering its head, which made it difficult to maintain a coherent fight. Fernando Adrian began with a move on a bent knee, then switched to a classic veronica and finished the series with an impressive media veronica. At the picador stage, the bull did not show particular resilience, and during the banderillas segment, it kept its head high, forcing the assistants to retreat to the barrier.
When working with the muleta, the bull remained agile but did not allow for long series — its attacks were sharp and not always consistent. The audience paid more attention to the bull’s movements than to the torero’s technique, causing debate in the stands. Nevertheless, Fernando Adrian withstood the pressure, finished his performance with a series of risky bernadinas and a precise thrust. After the first warning and a successful sword strike, he was awarded an ear.
The second participant, Fortes, faced serious danger with the very first bull. His 'DARDILLO' was met with applause but quickly revealed an aggressive temperament: after the first strike from the picador, the bull caught the torero, and Fortes ended up on the ground. Despite his injury, he continued the performance, but gusty wind and the animal’s difficult character prevented a coherent sequence. Ultimately, Fortes limited himself to single passes and finished the fight with a precise thrust, receiving the audience's approval.
The evening’s first fight opened with Diego Urdiales and the bull 'BUSCÓN'. The animal was aggressive and unyielding: its attacks were straightforward, without lowering its head, which did not allow the torero to fully display his skill. At the picador stage, the bull did not resist but also did not show much activity. In the finale, Urdiales finished the fight with a careful stab, but received no award.
The tournament took place in a packed arena—tickets had sold out in advance. All bulls were provided by the El Torero ranch. Evening results: Diego Urdiales — silence, Fortes — ovation, Fernando Adrian — an ear after a warning.
Context: In recent years, interest in traditional Spanish bullfights has remained consistently high, despite debates over ethics and participant safety. In Madrid, Las Ventas is considered one of the country’s main arenas, and the Feria de San Isidro is a key event of the season. By comparison, issues of safety and compensation in Spanish transportation also remain relevant: recently, a student from Catalonia filed a lawsuit against Renfe over Rodalies disruptions and deteriorating health. Details — in the article about the legal dispute with the railway company.
Reference: An ear is a traditional trophy in Spanish bullfighting, awarded for an outstanding performance. The Las Ventas arena holds over 23,000 spectators and is considered a symbol of Madrid's bullfighting scene. The Feria de San Isidro annually brings together the country's leading matadors and thousands of fans from all over Spain.
