Running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain 2019: what date is it and how can you run with the bulls?

The running of the bulls in Pamplona is the highlight of the Sanfermines festival / Adam Jones/Flickr

31 May 2019, 12:47

Pamplona Sanfermines bull running festival

When: 6th - 15th July 2019
Where: Pamplona, Spain
Website: www.sanfermin.com

Pamplona is well known as the city where the running of the bulls takes place in Spain every year in July. This is part of the Sanfermines festival, a fiesta that lasts more than a week and is most famous for the extremely dangerous race where bulls stampede through the streets of the town and people try to run away.

Here, we look at the history of the running of the bulls, how you can watch or take part in the Pamplona bull run, and what other activities are happening in the city during the festival.

Visit Pamplona, Spain

Pamplona is the capital of the province of Navarra, located in the north of Spain. Pamplona is one of the main stops for walkers on the Camino de Santiago, the St. James’ Pilgrim Road, on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The city stands out for its architectural heritage, with its outstanding Gothic-style churches, and one of the things you can do in Pamplona apart from attend the bull run is visit the Cathedral.

Pamplona running of the bulls history

Every 6th July, the launch of the chupinazo firework from the balcony of the town hall marks the beginning of a week of celebrations in Pamplona. The Fiestas de San Fermín, popularly known as Sanfermines, were created to honour San Fermín de Amiens, the patron saint of Pamplona.

The origin of the Sanfermines can be traced back centuries to the Middle Ages, although the worldwide fame it has acquired is a recent phenomenon, largely thanks to Ernest Hemingway’s glowing praise. The history of the bull-run is surprisingly practical – people first started running in front of bulls in an attempt to lead them where they wanted them to go, e.g. in their bullpens. Later, it became a test of bravery and a popular sporting event in Spain, like bullfighting.

Pamplona bull run clothes

There are lots of different events and activities that happen at the Sanfermines apart from the running of the bulls, including religious rituals, trade fairs and bullfighting in a bullring. The typical clothes to wear to the running of the bulls during the Sanfermines festival is white with a red sash around the neck or waist, so if you want to fit in, take plenty of changes of white clothes with you to Pamplona (just don’t wash them with the reds!). Don’t worry if you don’t have anything white to wear – you can easily buy the traditional white clothes when you’re in Pamplona.

How to run with the bulls (or just watch!)

The running of the bulls has become the most famous and well-known activity of this festival. The running of the bulls happens every day between 7th and 15th July 2019 at 8 a.m. The best place to watch it is from a balcony up high, since the street is so crowded. In fact, many people watch it on television then rush out to the balcony to watch when the bulls come past.

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The route is along Estafeta street in central Pamplona and is around 849 metres (2,785 feet) long. 6 bulls are released to run along the street, chasing the hundreds of people who take part. The bull run ends at the city’s bullring, where traditional Spanish bullfights with matadors take place in the afternoons. All six of the bulls that took part in the bull run are killed later in the day at this bullfight.

The running of the bulls in Pamplona only takes about two or three minutes and then it’s all over. However, it’s still enough time for people to get trampled or gored by the bulls. Bulls can run at a top speed of 35 mph, much faster than the people running in front of them. Since records began in 1924, 15 people have died during the running of the bulls, but many more people are injured each year.

If you’re wondering how to enter the bull run, there’s no official registration necessary to take part and it’s absolutely free. Anyone can be in the running of the bulls, but you should be sure you know the risks and that you’re in good physical form before taking on this challenge. The only rules for participating in the bull run are that you be over 18, not drunk and not taking selfies while you run!

The San Fermín festival ends with the traditional Pobre de mí (Poor Me), a song that the runners who participated in the festival sing to the patron saint at midnight in the main square of the town.