Albacete: the epicentre of bullfighting in September

Just as Seville is the focus in April, Madrid in May or Pamplona in July, Albacete becomes the epicentre of bullfighting in September. It is even considered a season-long bullring, having opened the year with a charity festival in aid of those affected by the DANA storms, featuring a line-up of top matadors. The Feria de la Virgen de los Llanos is a flawless fair: long in duration, firmly established in the bullfighting calendar, and renowned for its quality.

Albacete also has a very distinctive type of bull, known for its powerful charge, thanks to both its conformation and the company’s commitment to selecting prestigious bloodlines demanded by aficionados—no easy feat these days, given the significant shortage of livestock in the countryside.

This is the most serious bullring in Castilla-La Mancha, and among Spain’s second-category arenas it is the one that stages the highest number of bullfighting events each year. Here, both seriousness and conformation in the bulls are non-negotiable. The fans demand it, and the careful work of the cattle selectors is always crucial. For that reason, the bulls for this feria have been chosen and set aside in the countryside months in advance.

As a result of this dedication, the Albacete fair has consolidated itself with a strong base of season-ticket holders and prices that are affordable for all budgets. Attending the bullfights here is not expensive, and everyone who frequents the fair knows it—meaning many fans don’t just come once, but several times throughout the feria.

With these foundations, the 2025 edition reaffirms itself as one of the most solid cycles in the world, combining tradition, quality, and renewal in a ring with history and a passionate following.

The 2025 line-up:

Monday, 8 September: Bulls of Conde de Mayalde for Fortes, “Molina” and Samuel Navalón.

Tuesday, 9 September (novillada with picadors): Novillos of Montealto for Manuel Caballero, Aarón Palacio and Nicolás Cortijo (making his debut with picadors).

Wednesday, 10 September (novillada with picadors): Novillos of López Gibaja for El Mene, Javier Zulueta and Alejandro Quesada.

Thursday, 11 September: Bulls of Santiago Domecq for Sebastián Castella, Miguel Ángel Perera and Borja Jiménez.

Friday, 12 September: Bulls of Victoriano del Río for José María Manzanares, Alejandro Talavante and Juan Ortega.

Saturday, 13 September: Bulls of Daniel Ruiz for Morante de la Puebla, Paco Ureña and Roca Rey.

Sunday, 14 September (rejoneo): Bulls of Los Espartales for Andy Cartagena, Diego Ventura and Lea Vicens.

Monday, 15 September: Bulls of La Quinta for Fernando Adrián, “Molina” and Alejandro Peñaranda.

Tuesday, 16 September: Bulls of Jandilla for Emilio de Justo, Daniel Luque and Tomás Rufo.

Wednesday, 17 September: Bulls of Victorino Martín for Rubén Pinar, David Galván and Ginés Marín.