Who is the bullfighter Roca Rey, and will he bullfight in Pamplona during the San Fermines, 2026?
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Andrés Roca Rey is a well-known Peruvian matador, widely regarded as one of the biggest stars in modern bullfighting, thanks to his bold, high-risk style in the ring. In April 2026, during a bullfight at the historic La Maestranza in Seville as part of the Feria de Abril, he suffered a very serious accident when a bull gored him while he was attempting the final kill. The horn penetrated 35 cms into his right thigh, causing significant muscle damage and requiring immediate medical attention before he was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Fortunately, although the injury was severe and even required close monitoring afterward, no major blood vessels were fatally damaged. After several days in the hospital, he was discharged and began a long recovery process, with doctors expecting it to take "considerable time" before he can return to bullfighting. Click here for a brief video of Roca Rey sustaining his injury.
As for the San Fermin fiestas, 2026, Roca Rey is expected to take part in the upcoming San Fermín celebrations in Pamplona, where he remains one of the headline matadors. He is anticipated to appear twice during the bullfighting fair, with likely dates around July 9 and July 11, although the exact matchups are typically finalized closer to the event. The San Fermín festival itself runs from July 6 through July 14, 2026, filling the city with daily festivities. During this period, bullfights are held each evening, while the famous running of the bulls takes place every morning from July 7 to July 14, making it one of Spain’s most iconic and energetic annual celebrations.
Will Roca Rey be recovered in time for the San Fermines, 2026?
Based on what’s known about the injury, it’s possible but far from guaranteed that Andrés Roca Rey will be fully recovered in time for the 2026 San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona (July 6–14).
The goring he suffered in Seville in April 2026 was very serious, involving a deep wound to the thigh and significant muscle damage. Even though he avoided catastrophic vascular injury and was discharged within days, injuries of that depth typically require weeks to months of rehabilitation, especially for someone whose profession depends on strength, mobility, and precise movement.
That said, Roca Rey has a reputation for recovering quickly and returning to the ring sooner than expected, and top matadors often aim to be back for major dates like San Fermín. Since the festival is roughly 2½ to 3 months after the injury, a return is medically plausible - but it would depend on how well his muscle heals, whether he regains full strength, and whether doctors clear him for the physical demands and risks of bullfighting.
So the realistic answer is: Roca Rey may be ready, and he’s likely aiming to be - but it isn’t something that can be certain in advance. His actual participation will depend on his recovery progress in the weeks leading up to July.
We will update this blog about Roca Rey's recovery as the information becomes available to us.
UPDATE: As of May 31, 2026 - Roca Rey is indeed scheduled to bullfight in Pamplona on July 9th, 2026 and July 14th, 2026. His physicians say that he has recovered well enough to get back in the arena and do what he does best. See you there!