First casualties at Spain’s San Fermín festival: five people injured during the bull run

At the San Fermín festival in Spain, there were first casualties: five people were injured during the bull run

The traditional bull run at the famous San Fermín festival in the Spanish city of Pamplona once again served as a reminder of the danger of one of the country’s most famous traditions. During the first encierro (bull run) of 2026, five people were injured, and three of them were taken to hospital.

The morning run started on July 7 at exactly 8:00. Six fighting bulls from the Fuente Ymbro ranch, together with the guiding steers, covered the famous 825-meter route in just 2 minutes and 25 seconds. For most of the distance, the animals moved in a tight group, which helped avoid the most serious consequences, although several runners fell on the narrow streets of the old town.

According to doctors, a 61-year-old tourist from the United States was hospitalized with a head injury, as were two Spaniards aged 20 and 34 with injuries to a leg and ankle. First aid was provided on the spot to two more injured participants. All injuries are assessed as not life-threatening.

The San Fermín festival is held every year from July 6 to 14 and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world. Every day, six bulls run along the fenced-off streets of Pamplona’s historic center to the arena, while the bravest participants try to stay ahead of the animals along the entire route.

Despite strict safety measures, the runs remain extremely risky. Since official records began in the last century, 16 people have died during the encierro, and every year dozens of participants require medical assistance. The main danger comes not only from the bulls’ horns, but also from mass falls of runners on the city’s narrow streets.

Already the next day, the second run turned out to be even more dangerous — the first participant injured by a bull’s horn this year was reported.