22/05 San Isidro (19:00) Bulls. PDF FILE

San Isidro Festival 2026: when Las Ventas roars and history is written once again

The San Isidro Festival. There is no bullring like it. For good reason, Las Ventas is considered the most important bullring in the world.

On Friday 22 May, Las Ventas hosts one of those bullfights that perfectly capture the spirit of San Isidro: top-quality bulls, proven stars and an atmosphere unlike any other. Full stands, passionate debates in the corridors, overwhelming silences and ovations that raise goosebumps. The atmosphere in Madrid is incomparable, and when the line-up delivers, anticipation reaches its peak.

Victoriano del Río bulls for Castella, Emilio de Justo and Tomás Rufo

The bulls come from Victoriano del Río, one of the most reliable and highly regarded breeding farms in the fighting bull world. Bulls with class, stamina and transmission, capable of producing great performances without losing the level of demand that Madrid requires. A guaranteed breeding for an afternoon destined to make a difference.

Facing them is a truly outstanding line-up. Between the three matadors, they have opened the Puerta Grande of Las Ventas 13 times. An extraordinary achievement.

• Sebastián Castella:

The French matador has opened the Puerta Grande in Madrid six times throughout his career. The most recent — still fresh in the memory of fans — came on 19 May 2023, during the San Isidro Festival, when he cut two ears from a Jandilla bull and was carried out on shoulders on a sold-out afternoon. Castella is synonymous with consistency, ambition and the ability to succeed when pressure is at its highest.

• Emilio de Justo:

The matador from Extremadura has opened five Puertas Grandes in Madrid, establishing himself as one of the most solid names in today’s bullfighting scene. The latest came during the Autumn Festival on 3 October 2025, in an epic performance: he returned to the ring injured to cut two ears from the sixth bull and leave through the Puerta Grande. Courage, technique and total commitment to Madrid.

• Tomás Rufo:

A matador of major significance within the new generation. He has opened the Puerta Grande of Las Ventas twice, in 2022 and 2023.

A historic line-up which, between the three matadors, boasts an impressive 13 Puertas Grandes. Almost unbelievable.

Learn who does what in the ring — and why it matters — with the Libro Toro

To enjoy the event even more, you can add the Libro Toro to your purchase — a practical mini-encyclopaedia designed to explain bullfighting in a clear, simple and accessible way. Available in Spanish and English.

With the Libro Toro you will learn:

• the step-by-step structure of a bullfight,

• the different stages of the fight,

• the role of each protagonist,

• and the details that distinguish a correct performance from a truly great one.

Buying the Libro Toro will allow you to follow what happens in the ring with greater understanding and enjoy the spectacle even more, thanks to clear explanatory infographics.

Buy The Bullfighting Book and become an expert in just 10 minutes. 

Your guaranteed access to the bullring with Servitoro

Buying your tickets through Servitoro guarantees security, official sales and peace of mind. As the official ticketing service of Las Ventas Bullring, Servitoro allows you to purchase your tickets easily and safely from home, avoiding long queues and waiting times at the box office.

Advantages of buying with Servitoro:

• 100% online purchase,

• Clear and secure purchasing process,

• Official and valid tickets,

• Specialised customer service.

Avoid fraud and buy correctly through Servitoro.

Surcharge applied by the promoter: 10% + €12 handling fees per ticket.

Important recommendations during purchase

• Carefully check your email address before completing your order.

• Make sure you receive our emails (purchase confirmation and order status updates).

• If you do not see them, check all folders, including spam.

We recommend that you carefully read Servitoro’s Terms and Conditions of Purchase.

If you have any questions, our customer service team is available at:

📞 +34 96 330 85 93

📱 WhatsApp: +34 647 66 93 71

Important information about access to the bullring

• Tickets will be sent in PDF format 3–4 days before the event.

• Tickets must be printed on paper.

• The printed ticket must be handed over at the entrance, where it will be validated by scanner.

• If multiple copies of the same ticket exist, only the first presented will be valid.

• The purchase invoice does not grant access to the event.

• It is recommended to arrive at the bullring at least one hour in advance, check your entrance gate beforehand and find your seat calmly.

• Once the bullfight has started, access to your seat will not be permitted.

Important – Incidents

In the event of any issue, do not go to the box office, as they will not be able to offer a solution.

Please contact our customer service team directly:

• 📱 WhatsApp: +34 647 66 93 71

• 📧 Email: clientes@servitoro.com

Organiser’s notes

• Duration of the event: 120 minutes.

• Arriving 1–2 hours in advance is recommended to avoid queues and crowds.

• Special tickets (reduced mobility, young people, pensioners, etc.) will take place exclusively at the box office, subject to availability.

Organiser’s notes

• Approximate duration of the event: 120 minutes.

• It is recommended to arrive 1–2 hours in advance.

• Special tickets (reduced mobility, youth, pensioners, etc.) are sold only at the box office, subject to availability.

The week comes to an end, and there is no better plan than an afternoon of bullfighting — a truly perfect plan. The bullfight on Friday 22 May features an outstanding line-up. Don’t miss out on your seat — secure your official tickets now at Servitoro.