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Nine days of street parties, all-night revelry, and eight minutes of bull running every morning. Most people come for the parties. A few come to run.
Annual. Always 6–14 July. The 2026 edition runs the same dates. The encierro (bull run) takes place every morning at 8am during the festival.
San Fermin runs for nine days every July in Pamplona, in Spain's Basque Country. It begins at noon on 6 July when the txupinazo rocket is fired from the town hall balcony: the signal for the festival to start. From that moment until midnight on 14 July, the city does not sleep. The encierro, the bull run, happens each morning at 8am and lasts around three minutes. The rest of the day is street parties, concerts, fireworks, and corridas (bullfights) in the afternoon.
The encierro covers an 875-metre course from the Corrales de Santo Domingo to the Plaza de Toros. Six bulls and six steers run with participants. The run lasts between three and eight minutes depending on how the animals move. Every year between 50 and 100 people are injured, mostly from falls. Gorings occur: on average one or two serious injuries per festival. Running is legal and free. You must be over 18, sober, and wearing the white-and-red outfit. Registration happens at the town hall the morning of the run.
Most of the 1 million-plus visitors across the nine days do not run. They come for the street party, which is continuous. The Plaza del Castillo is the centre of the social scene: bars ring the square and stay open through the night. Nightly fireworks competitions take place from the Ciudadela park at 11pm. The txistulari (traditional Basque musicians) lead processions through the old town each morning.
Pamplona hostels and hotels book out completely for San Fermin, often 6 months in advance. San Sebastián, 80 kilometres away, is the practical hostel base for most budget travellers. Buses run between the two cities every 30 minutes during the festival. Bilbao is also a viable base at 90 minutes. Prices verified March 2026.
Party hostels within reach of San Sebastian's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Pamplona sits in northern Spain, 80km from San Sebastián and 90km from Bilbao. Both cities have good hostel provision and regular bus connections to Pamplona during the festival. Buses from San Sebastián run every 30 minutes.
Day-by-day breakdown
The opening rocket fires from Pamplona's town hall at exactly noon. The Plaza Consistorial and surrounding streets are packed. Everyone wears white with a red neckerchief (pañuelo) and red sash (faja): buy these in advance from any Spanish sports shop or market stall. The afternoon and evening are street parties. The first encierro is the following morning.
The bull run starts at 8am and spectators must be in position by 7:30am. Free viewing spots along the route fill from 6am. The best free spots are in the early section near Santo Domingo: the bulls run fastest here. The final straight into the bullring is viewable from the ring itself for a small admission fee (approximately €8). If you intend to run, register at the town hall before 7am and take up your starting position by 7:30am.
Bullfights run every afternoon at 5pm during the festival. Tickets cost €10–150 depending on seat and day: the corrida on 6 and 7 July is the most expensive. This is a genuine cultural event that divides opinion; cover it factually. Seats in the sol (sun) section are cheapest and the most atmospheric in terms of crowd energy.
International fireworks competitions are held at the Ciudadela park every evening at 11pm. These are free to watch from the park grounds. The standard of the displays is high: this is a competition, not a civic gesture. Arrive 30 minutes early for a good position.
The Plaza del Castillo is the social core of San Fermin. The bars around its perimeter: Bar Txoko, Bar Fitero, Café Iruña (where Hemingway drank): stay open through the night. Most San Fermin regulars do not sleep between the evening party and the 8am encierro. If you are basing in San Sebastián, the last bus back runs around 2–3am during the festival; check current timetables on arrival.
Take it easy. Find a local cafe, eat a proper meal, and sort out onward travel. Most hostels offer late checkout if you ask the night before.
Realistic costs per person · Verified March 2026
Prices in GBP. Festival week prices may be higher than standard rates. Prices verified March 2026.
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