The Law of the Street at La Misericordia: Why El Pilar Sets the Standard for Popular Bullfighting

The company Zaragoza Toros has put together a 2026 Feria del Pilar programme that combines elite competition with events aimed at encouraging younger generations. These popular events run alongside the main bullfights, filling the mornings and evenings with some of the most exciting disciplines in the traditional programme.

Here is the official day-by-day programme at Zaragoza’s historic bullring:

Sunday 11 to Sunday 18 October — 8:00 am: Morning Vaquillas
The unmissable daily tradition of the fair. Local cattle face the challenge of a packed crowd in the early hours of the morning, creating one of the most characteristic spectacles of the Feria del Pilar.

Sunday 11 October — 11:00 pm: 40th Spanish Roscaderos Championship and Bull Release
One of Aragón’s most distinctive traditional disciplines. Teams face the charging cattle using a roscadero, a traditional wicker basket, as their only protection.

Monday 12 October — 11:30 am: Spanish Goyesque Recortes Championship with Bulls
Coinciding with the main day of the Pilar celebrations, some of Spain’s finest specialists will face fully horned bulls, performing spectacular recortes, jumps and passes at close range.

Tuesday 13 October — 11:30 am: Running of the Cabestros
A demonstration of traditional cattle-handling skills, with handlers and cabestros showcasing their ability to control and guide the animals around the arena.

Wednesday 14 October — 10:00 am: Special Vaquillas for Young People
A special event aimed specifically at 14- and 15-year-olds, providing a controlled and adapted setting for younger participants and helping to encourage the next generation of enthusiasts.

Friday 16 October — 11:00 pm: Emboladores Competition and Special Obstacle Event
The evening comes alive with the imposing capones from the Arriazu breeding operation. Teams race against the clock in a test of skill involving the fitting of the traditional fire apparatus to the animals’ horns, followed by challenges involving obstacles in the arena.

Saturday 17 October — 11:30 am: Grand Prix and Aragón Championship
Teams representing municipalities from across the province compete in a lively combination of physical challenges, skill-based games and encounters with fighting cattle.

This programme offers a fascinating introduction for anyone wanting to understand the origins of Spain’s traditional bullfighting culture. For visitors discovering these traditions for the first time, and for those looking for an adrenaline-filled experience, Zaragoza offers an authentic spectacle with no script and no filters.

But it is also aimed at the established bullfighting enthusiast. Anyone who follows the world of the cape, muleta and traditional bullfighter’s costume should not overlook what takes place at La Misericordia at dawn, in the middle of the day and late at night.

Popular bullfighting is not simply a secondary branch of the tradition. It forms part of the ancient roots from which many of today’s bullfighting customs and techniques have developed.
Understanding the behaviour of a vaquilla, the intelligence of an animal that learns from its surroundings and the precision required to execute a recorte at exactly the right moment offers another perspective on Spanish bullfighting culture.

For that reason, visit La Misericordia and experience one of the most traditional and distinctive sides of the Feria del Pilar in Zaragoza.