Who was Ignacio Sánchez Mejías?
15 de January de 2026
The In Memoriam bullfight, held every June at Las Ventas once the San Isidro Festival has ended, has become one of the most traditional events
Every ending carries a touch of melancholy, but at Las Ventas, the nostalgia for what’s passing is countered by the excitement for what’s to come, and the close of the 2024 season is nothing short of magnificent. A Golden Autumn marked by the farewell of Ponce, yet with countless other attractions that we break down in the following paragraphs:
Ponce is leaving, a legendary figure of the bullfighting world for over three decades. On Saturday, September 28th, he will bid farewell to Las Ventas, confirming the doctorate of one of the newest matadors in the rankings, Samuel Navalón (who will receive his alternative at the upcoming Feria de Albacete), and joining him will be the sensation of San Isidro, David Galván. The bulls will be from Garcigrande and Juan Pedro Domecq.
The stars return. Not long ago, the top bullfighters were reluctant to fight in Madrid at this time of year, but with Plaza 1, the exception has become the rule. This 2024, Manzanares (Friday, October 4th) and Roca Rey (Sunday, October 6th) take on the commitment to return to Las Ventas at this season’s end.
Two stellar mano a mano duels. Two clashes that will spark excitement. They make sense, and there will be competition. Borja Jiménez and Fernando Adrián on Saturday, October 5th. The two young bullfighters who have claimed the most attention in the past two seasons with a top-tier breeding stock like Victoriano del Río, and two seasoned masters like Perera and Emilio de Justo, no less than with Victorino bulls, to close the season on Hispanic Day. Who will win both duels? Bullfighting, undoubtedly.
The young ones don’t shy away and stand tall. Román, who has already cut two ears this year in Madrid, and Tomás Rufo, a pillar of the new generation, will face Manzanares on October 4th, and Víctor Hernández, who dazzled as a novice in Madrid in 2022 and is the brand-new winner of this season’s Copa Chenel, will take on Roca Rey on Sunday, October 6th, in a lineup rounded off by another “Madrid” bullfighter, Paco Ureña, who will certainly not be a mere bystander in the contest.
The novilladas complete the program. Highlighted novices throughout the year, like Chicharro, and summer standouts like Valentín Hoyos, will have their chance to prove themselves once again before the experts. And as a grand finale, the final of the Camino towards Las Ventas, on the morning of October 12th. A double session on the last bullfighting day of the year at Las Ventas, ensuring the close is truly memorable.
The In Memoriam bullfight, held every June at Las Ventas once the San Isidro Festival has ended, has become one of the most traditional events
Emiliano Osornio’s return to Madrid provided the standout moments of the Autumn Fair’s opening day. With the fifth novillo, he produced passages full of depth and composure, in a contest marked by the limited play of the livestock.
The 2025 Madrid Autumn Fair is the perfect showcase to take the pulse of bullfighting — especially of what lies ahead in the coming years. If the passion and imagination that the company has shown in crafting these original line-ups is matched in the ring, the fair could prove historic. Personally, I wouldn’t miss it.
They are the appetiser of an attractive Autumn Fair, but also the reaffirmation of the young novilleros announced. A glimpse of the future of this
Las Ventas, being a true seasonal bullring, organises its calendar in well-defined cycles. In September, it is the bull that takes command. Breeding contests and
Madrid in August is alive and far from the outdated clichés of a sleepy summer city. Among the many cultural and leisure options on offer during the heat of the season, bullfighting remains a thrilling experience. With later starting times adapted to modern lifestyles and an attractive, diverse programme, an evening at Las Ventas is a compelling choice for both locals and visitors.
