The sixth running of the bulls at San Fermín 2026 saw packed streets and a rapid, clean race. La Palmosilla bulls split into two groups, creating tense moments and leaving seven runners injured by contusions.
The sixth encierro of San Fermín 2026 delivered one of the most intense mornings yet in Pamplona, as thousands crowded the historic city center to witness the La Palmosilla bulls charge through the narrow streets. The event, known for its unpredictability and risk, saw the bulls complete the course in just 2 minutes and 23 seconds, maintaining a blistering pace that left little room for error among the runners.
This year’s La Palmosilla herd, participating for only the second time in Pamplona, was made up of eight bulls weighing between 555 and 590 kilos. The heaviest, Camarado and Mágico, both tipped the scales at 590 kilos, while the lightest, Cantarillo, weighed in at 555 kilos. The bulls quickly split into two groups along Estafeta Street, a move that heightened the danger and forced runners to make split-second decisions as the animals thundered past.
Despite the speed and the density of the crowd, the run was notably clean, with no gorings reported. However, seven participants suffered contusions, according to the provisional report at 8:18. The sheer number of runners, especially on a Sunday, made the course more hazardous, with several strong falls and moments where horns brushed dangerously close to bodies. The tradition continued as runners gathered before the start to ask San Fermín for protection, a ritual repeated three times before the bulls were released from the corrals.
The sixth encierro signals the final stretch of the Sanfermines, with only two runs remaining this year. The event’s reputation for both spectacle and risk was on full display, as the bulls’ noble behavior and the runners’ daring combined for a memorable morning. The split of the herd and the high speed added to the tension, echoing concerns about crowding and safety that have been raised in previous years. In fact, similar issues were highlighted when a runner was forced to leave the festival after an injury during the opening encierro, as detailed in this earlier report.
San Fermín’s encierros are a central tradition in Pamplona, drawing both locals and visitors from around the world. The event is tightly regulated, with strict rules for participation and a significant presence of emergency services along the route. Each morning’s run is broadcast live, and the city’s historic core is transformed as thousands gather before dawn. The combination of tradition, adrenaline, and unpredictability continues to define the festival, making each encierro a focal point of Spanish summer. With only two runs left, attention now turns to how the final days will unfold and whether the high-speed, clean runs will continue to hold.
