San Fermín (Sanfermines) in Pamplona

Every year, from 6 to 14 July, Pamplona (Iruñea) lives to the rhythm of the Sanfermines, held in honour of St Fermin. The next edition will take place from 6 to 14 July 2027.

The chupinazo, 6 July at noon

The fiesta begins on 6 July at 12:00 with the chupinazo, a rocket fired from the balcony of the town hall, on Plaza Consistorial. The tradition dates back to 1941, when the rocket moved from Plaza del Castillo to the town hall balcony. Since 2016, local residents have voted to choose who fires the rocket.

The encierros, 7–14 July at 08:00

Every morning, from 7 to 14 July at 08:00, the bulls for that evening’s bullfight are run to the bullring through the streets of the old town.

• Route: 848.6 metres
• Duration: about 2 minutes
• Animals: six bulls every day, guided by herders and lead steers
• Before the start: the runners sing a prayer to St Fermin on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo, brandishing their folded newspapers

You must be 18 to run, and you must follow the instructions of the police and the herders; breaking the rules is punished with fines. The streets along the route are closed to pedestrians 90 minutes before the start. To watch, your best bet is to find a balcony or a seat in the bullring stands.

The Pobre de mí, 14 July

The fiesta ends on 14 July on Plaza Consistorial. The crowd, holding lit candles, sings the Pobre de mí (‘Poor me’). The mayor officially closes the fiesta and bids everyone farewell until the following year.

Hemingway and Pamplona

Ernest Hemingway arrived in Pamplona in 1923, aged 24, as a reporter for the Toronto Star. In 1926, he published The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta in Spanish), inspired by the 1925 fiesta. The book made the Sanfermines famous around the world. A photograph also records his visit in 1959.

Tips

• Book your accommodation very early: the city is packed to bursting.
• The full programme (Gigantes y Cabezudos, concerts, fireworks, bullfights) is published every year by the city council.

Full guide: our Pamplona (Iruñea) guide.

Sources

• Pamplona City Council — The Encierro (Bullrun)
• Pamplona City Council — The Chupinazo and the Pobre de mí
• Pamplona City Council — Ernest Hemingway and Pamplona
• Sanfermin.com — The encierro route