Pamplona’s fourth encierro of San Fermín 2026 turned chaotic on Friday morning as Álvaro Núñez’s bulls charged at high speed through the city’s historic streets. At the Mercaderes-Estafeta curve, the lead bulls crashed into the wooden barriers, knocking a runner to the ground and triggering panic among participants and onlookers.
The run lasted two minutes and 32 seconds, making it the longest and fastest of the festival to that point. The herd split into two distinct groups as it charged through the course. The Catalan publication El Caso described the result as “two races.” With the bulls separated, runners faced a less predictable distribution of animals along the route, adding to the intensity of an already rapid encierro.
The bulls brought by the Cádiz-based Álvaro Núñez ranch included some of the heaviest animals seen this year. Gavilán, a red bull weighing 595 kilograms, stood out. The group also included Billetero, a black mulatto with a stripe; Juncoso, another red bull with “ojo de perdiz” markings, also weighing 595 kilos; and Gruñón, a black striped bull weighing 590 kilos. The lighter members were a second Gavilán, red and weighing 570 kilos, and Asustado, a black mulatto with streaks weighing 565 kilos. Their reported weights and markings added to the profile of a powerful group running through the city’s narrow streets.
As the bulls surged ahead of the cabestros, the risk to runners rose sharply. The collision at Mercaderes-Estafeta was a stark reminder of the hazards of the encierro, a tradition that draws thousands of participants and spectators each year. At least one runner was knocked down, briefly disrupting the herd’s flow. The bulls then regained momentum and continued toward the bullring.
San Fermín’s encierros are known for their unpredictability and ever-present risk of injury. Earlier in the festival, concerns about crowding and safety came into focus when a runner from Bizkaia was forced to withdraw after being trampled, as detailed in a recent report on the challenges faced by experienced participants during the opening run. The latest incident at Mercaderes highlights the ongoing tension between tradition and safety in Pamplona’s most famous event.
San Fermín’s encierros have been held annually since the late 16th century. They have become a symbol of Pamplona, attracting visitors from across Spain and around the world. The route stretches just over 800 meters and is lined with double wooden barriers; emergency services monitor the course. Each year, the event is broadcast live, with minute-by-minute coverage available from outlets such as RTVE Noticias. Powerful bulls run through narrow streets amid large crowds, creating an atmosphere that is both festive and fraught with risk. Most runs end without serious injury, but the potential for accidents remains high, especially when the herd splits or loses formation. The 2026 edition continues to test the balance between maintaining tradition and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
