Review Madrid – 21 May 2026

The 2026 San Isidro Fair experienced one of those afternoons on 21 May where the packed atmosphere in the stands contrasted sharply with the action in the ring. Las Ventas once again displayed the “Sold Out” sign — the seventh full house of the festival — but the disappointing performance of the bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo and La Ventana del Puerto prevented José María Manzanares, Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado from achieving any success.

The corrida offered very few genuine opportunities for the three matadors. The lack of fighting spirit, transmission and consistency from the bulls gradually extinguished both the ambitions of the bullfighters and the enthusiasm of the Madrid crowd.

Manzanares produced some of the most elegant cape work of the afternoon with the opening bull, greeting it with a series of stylish verónicas. However, the animal quickly showed a lack of strength and little willingness to charge. The Alicante-born matador attempted to build the faena around the right hand, but the bull’s reserved behaviour prevented any real emotion from developing. The fourth replacement bull also failed to provide the necessary conditions for a memorable performance, and silence followed once again.

Juan Ortega also endured an unrewarding afternoon. The Sevillian first faced a replacement bull from José Vázquez after the original second bull was returned to the pens. The substitute lacked strength from the outset, limiting Ortega’s possibilities despite his attempts to leave moments of softness and refinement. The fifth bull, from La Ventana del Puerto, showed little stamina and a weak charge, making it impossible for Ortega to shine.

Pablo Aguado produced some of the afternoon’s most artistic moments, particularly with the cape. His chicuelinas during a quite to the sixth bull briefly lifted the atmosphere in the stands and became one of the few highlights of the corrida. Aguado also delivered several stylish muletazos to the third bull, which initially hinted at quality before fading quickly. The faena lost momentum and ended on a bitter note when the Sevillian struggled with the descabello and received all three warnings. Despite the mobility of the sixth bull, he was unable to turn the afternoon around.

The twelfth event of the San Isidro Fair once again demonstrated the enormous pulling power of Madrid’s most important bullfighting festival, although the artistic content of the afternoon fell well below expectations.