The San Sebastián de los Reyes 2026 encierros arrive this Monday, August 31, for their last day. After a week of races, the Madrid town will close one of the most popular events of its festivities with the eighth encierro, which will begin at 11:00 AM and will feature calves from Montealto, according to the official program of the City Council.
This will be the last opportunity this summer to witness the races that have turned San Sebastián de los Reyes into the so-called "little Pamplona." The festivities, declared of National Tourist Interest and with more than five centuries of tradition, have included this year eight encierros between August 25 and 31, seven of them in the morning and one at night.
What time is the last encierro of San Sebastián de los Reyes
The last encierro will begin at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 31. Before the race, at 10:00 AM, the Municipal Music Band will parade through the encierro route and there will also be a street parade with a charanga through the old town. At 10:30 AM, the placement of the image of the Most Holy Christ of Remedies is scheduled at the intersection of Real and Postas streets.
At 11:00 AM, the main moment will arrive, with the release of the calves from Montealto. Once the encierro is finished, at 11:15 AM there will be a release of cattle for a general capea in the bullring and, at that same time, the traditional pyrotechnic display of the last encierro will take place at the curve of Postas with Real.
Route of the encierro: 820 meters to the bullring
The route maintains the traditional path of approximately 820 meters. The animals will start from the pens and cross the streets Leopoldo Gimeno, Real Vieja, Postas, Real, and Estafeta, continuing along the Avenida Plaza de Toros and finishing inside the ring.
It is a particularly fast route, with different points where the speed of the herd can exceed 30 kilometers per hour. The organization also maintains a runner-free zone between number 92 of Real street and the access to the bullring, designed to reduce crowding of participants in the final stretch. Spectators must remain in the designated areas and respect the instructions of the security device.
Where to watch the last encierro on television
Those who cannot travel to San Sebastián de los Reyes will be able to follow the race live on Antena 3, which has broadcast all the morning bull runs of these festivities. The broadcast is scheduled to coincide with the release of the cattle at 11:00 hours.
It will also be available through Canal Norte TV Digital, the municipal medium, which offers the bull runs both live and later on delay. The platform also has a historical archive of races held since the late eighties.
Who can run the bull run
To participate, it is necessary to be at least 16 years old, be in adequate physical condition, and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The regulations prohibit access to the route under the influence of alcohol or other substances and also do not allow running with objects that may hinder movement, such as backpacks, bags, bottles, cameras, or mobile phones.
The City Council has deployed a specific device during the festivities in which the National Police, Local Police, Civil Protection, and Emergency services participate. The town expected to receive thousands of visitors during the festive week, especially during the bull runs and the main bullfighting events.
The program after the last bull run
The bullfighting morning will continue once the race is over. In addition to the general capea scheduled for 11:15 hours, at 13:00 hours there will be a children's bull run on Postas street, organized by the Association of Practical Bullfighting Fans, and at that same time the Poppy Dance will begin in the Tejar square.
Thus, the key appointment for this Monday will be at 11:00 hours: calves from Montealto, 820 meters of route through the historic center and arrival at the bullring to put an end to the eight bull runs of San Sebastián de los Reyes 2026.