San Juan festivals draw thousands in Mexico and Spain amid bullfighting celebrations
The Feria San Juan del Río in Mexico recorded over 39,000 visitors in its first week, featuring concerts, cultural shows and a water‑leak incident that prompted reinforcement work on the Palenque arena.
In Spain, the San Juan celebrations continued across several towns. Soria hosted a formal reception for the bullfighting jurors, while Badajoz’s Feria San Juan featured toros de Daniel Ruiz that critics said lacked quality. Albacete’s mayor Manuel Serrano pledged to use the San Juan festivities to promote taurine culture, endorsing local bullfighting schools.
Turtzioz scheduled a novillada during its San Pedro patronal festivals, honoring the late torero Iván Fandiño. In Coria, a 25‑year‑old participant suffered serious injuries after being gored by a bull during the San Juan festivities, prompting emergency medical response. Finally, Palencia announced the line‑up for its San Antolín 2026 fair, highlighting prominent bullfighters Morante de la Puebla and Andrés Roca Rey among other notable toreros.
These events collectively highlight the continued popularity of traditional bullfighting spectacles within the broader San Juan festival season across both Mexico and Spain.