A charity corrida in tribute to Ceuta filled Las Ventas. Aarón Palacio confirmed his alternativa to a strong ovation, while Morante de la Puebla and Héctor Gutiérrez had uneven afternoons.
Las Ventas listed a 17:30 start for the 12 October 2026 Día de la Hispanidad corrida, held in tribute to Ceuta. Morante de la Puebla and Héctor Gutiérrez joined Aarón Palacio on the bill. The arena’s listings named bulls from Garcigrande and Núñez del Cuvillo. Cultoro reported before the event that no tickets remained.
Palacio’s first bull, Veraniego, made for a difficult start. After three failed attempts to kill the bull, he received an aviso before making a final estocada. He left to a strong ovation.
The confirmation came in a measured performance. Veraniego, from Garcigrande, appeared short of strength. Palacio found a better rhythm on the right, struggled with the left and drew attention with his chest passes and doblones. The bull also received an ovation. Palacio had earned his place in the Madrid line-up after a successful run in the Copa Chenel, which Gutiérrez won that season. As Cultoro noted, the confirmation fell on the Día de la Virgen del Pilar, a particularly significant date for the Aragon-born matador.
Palacio received his alternativa in Nîmes on 20 September 2025, with Roca Rey as godfather and Pablo Aguado as witness. He cut three ears that day from bulls of the Jandilla ranch.
The crowd filled the arena for the charity event. It opened with the anthems of Ceuta and Spain. Morante received an ovation, accompanied by some whistles.
His first bull, Siciliano, left little room for a sustained performance. The Garcigrande bull lacked range and veered towards the right. Morante tested him before going in to kill, then was met with silence.
Héctor Gutiérrez’s afternoon drew a more divided response. With Lamparito, from Núñez del Cuvillo, Palacio performed a chicuelina quite. Gutiérrez dedicated his work to Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The bull charged and repeated, but the faena failed to connect with the stands. After a contrary estocada, the Mexican matador received an ovation. The bull drew applause as it was dragged away.
The tribute to Ceuta extended beyond the corrida. Plaza 1’s programme included a roundtable titled Mirando a Ceuta with participants from bullfighting, media and civic life, and a musical group from Ceuta performed before the evening event.
Morante’s second appearance produced a notable moment, then a split reaction. He dedicated his faena to Carlos Sainz, and one natural pass stood out. The rest of the performance divided the crowd. After a metisaca and a low, displaced estocada, he acknowledged applause and protests from the tercio.
Gutiérrez had fewer options with the fifth bull, Treinta y tres, from Garcigrande. The bull was dull, and the faena made little connection with the crowd. Gutiérrez was silenced after an estocada that landed somewhat low.
Palacio received the final bull, Tortolito, from Núñez del Cuvillo, with a kneeling farol. Juan Sierra and Araujo were acknowledged after the banderillas. Palacio dedicated his faena to Curro Vázquez. The report gives no further outcome for that final performance.
The corrida used bulls from Garcigrande and Núñez del Cuvillo. Juan Pedro Domecq bulls were listed as reserves. Telemadrid was scheduled to televise the event. Castilla-La Mancha Media and À Punt were also set to carry it beyond the arena.
