The municipality presented the bullfighting programme for its Patron Saint Festivals this Saturday, with the XXXVII Vid de Oro Novilladas Fair and the XXXI Recortes Contest as the main attractions.
The Montserrat Caballé Auditorium in Arganda del Rey hosted the official presentation of the bullfighting festivities that will be part of the 2026 Patron Saint Festivals, which will kick off on September 5. The event, led by journalist Vanesa Santos, revealed the poster for the XXXVII Vid de Oro Novilladas Fair and the line-up of novilleros who are announced as the future of bullfighting in Spain.
Tribute to two key figures in local bullfighting history
During the gala, the mayor of Arganda del Rey, Alberto Escribano, wanted to pay tribute to Mauricio García 'Mauri' and Dionisio Salcedo 'Dioni', two individuals who, in his words, “have worked for our festivities for many years without receiving anything in return and inaugurated what is known as the clearing of the square.” Both were recognised as fundamental pieces in the consolidation of the bullfighting tradition of the municipality.
Escribano highlighted the importance of keeping this legacy alive: “From day one, I said we had to take care of this tradition and do everything with purpose because every gesture counts. We must thank the generations that came before us for leaving us a legacy that many envy in other places today.” The mayor reminded everyone that there are 49 days left until the first encierro and that “now we can say we have everything prepared.”
A complete programme: novilladas, recortes, encierros and capeas
The XXXVII Vid de Oro Novilladas Fair is once again the centrepiece of the bullfighting programme, featuring novilleros aspiring to make their mark in the world of bullfighting. Additionally, the participating livestock farms for the XXXI Recortes Contest 'Memorial Goyo Sanalejo' were announced, along with details of the encierros and capeas that each year gather thousands of fans in the streets of Arganda.
The presentation of the bullfighting festivities marks the starting gun for the countdown to the Patron Saint Festivals, which will begin on Saturday, September 5. This Saturday's event completes a series of prior announcements, such as the finalists for the Vid de Plata and the livestock line-up revealed in May at the Antonio Bienvenida Hall in Las Ventas, Madrid.
Arganda, a national reference for the novilleril scene
With this event, Arganda del Rey reaffirms its position as one of the reference points for young bullfighting in Spain. The Vid de Oro Novilladas Fair has established itself as a springboard for new talents, and the recortes contest keeps alive one of the most deeply rooted expressions of popular bullfighting folklore.
For the residents of Arganda and the visitors who will come during the festivities, the bullfighting offerings are varied and have a strong local flavour. The encierros, which take place through the urban area, are one of the most anticipated moments, and the capeas provide a unique opportunity for the younger ones to start in the world of bulls in a controlled environment.
The mayor did not miss the opportunity to send a message of optimism: “We have everything prepared for these festivities to be unforgettable. Arganda once again shows that it knows how to do things right and that our bullfighting tradition is a source of pride for everyone.”
With the presentation this Saturday, the municipality closes the circle of festive planning and focuses on the last-minute preparations. Fans can already check the complete posters and livestock farms on the municipal website, and it is expected that the sale of passes for the novilladas fair will begin in the coming days.
You may also like
