San Fermín 2026 is underway. Day 1 of 9.
Encierro tracks Pamplona because our instructors run the course themselves every July, not just watch from a balcony. This is our encierro news July 2026 coverage of what happened in the city on the opening day of the fiesta. The encierro itself starts tomorrow, but everything that happens today shapes it.
Chupinazo launches San Fermín 2026 amid historic heat
Orain, Diario de Navarra, Naiz, July 6, 2026
Clint Jean Louis Fernández and Araceli Sergio Aguilera, the emergency services staff chosen by public vote to fire the rocket, lit the chupinazo (the rocket launch that opens San Fermín) at noon from the Casa Consistorial balcony as temperatures in Pamplona climbed toward 40°C. More than 300 guests packed the balcony, including Navarra president María Chivite, Basque lehendakari (the president of the Basque Government) Imanol Pradales, migrations minister Elma Sáiz, and Navarra’s Parliament president Unai Hualde. It was the first time a sitting lehendakari has attended the balcony chupinazo in person. “Es un honor estar en los Sanfermines, que es la fiesta de Euskal Herria con mayor proyección en el mundo.” (It’s an honor to be at San Fermín, the Euskal Herria festival with the greatest reach in the world.)
Moments after lighting the rocket, Fernández called it “un momento mágico, inolvidable” (a magical, unforgettable moment) and said he had rehearsed the ceremonial shout alone in his car. Sergio Aguilera said the moment brought her to tears and dedicated it to Navarra’s emergency nursing staff.
2026 also marks ten years since Pamplona first chose its chupinazo launcher by public vote, a tradition that began with Jesús Ilundáin Zaragüeta, known as “El Tuli.” The Ayuntamiento has organized 516 official acts for this year’s fiesta on a total festival budget of 1.6 million euros, with music and concerts taking the largest share. Read the original coverage at Orain.
City cuts children’s activities and procession stops as heat alert holds
Pamplona.es, Naiz, July 6, 2026
With an AEMET orange heat alert in effect and highs near 40°C, the Ayuntamiento announced it will close the Kirolari Sports Kids and Menudas Fiestas children’s activities in sun exposed areas from 12:00 to 17:00 for the fiesta’s first two days. Mayor Joseba Asiron and Archbishop Florencio Roselló also agreed that tomorrow’s San Fermín procession will keep its full route through the Casco Viejo but cut from its usual stops down to two: the Jota Ofrenda a San Fermín in Plaza del Consejo, and the Agur Jaunak at the San Saturnino well. Read the official announcement.
Almuerzos tradition opens the fiesta morning in Plaza del Castillo
Diario de Navarra, July 6, 2026
Cuadrillas (groups of friends who fiesta together) filled Plaza del Castillo and Casco Viejo bars from early morning for the traditional pre-chupinazo almuerzo of chistorra, panceta, eggs, green pepper, and fried potatoes. Menus at Casco Viejo bars ran 20 to 25 euros with a combined plate and drink included. Some groups reserve the same table a year in advance. “Nosotros ya somos VIP,” one regular said. (We’re already VIP.) Read the original article.
Municipal Police recover phones and wallets stolen during the Chupinazo crush
Diario de Navarra, July 6, 2026
Pamplona’s Policía Municipal recovered 11 mobile phones and two wallets stolen during the crowd crush around the Chupinazo, posting images of the recovered items to Instagram within minutes of the theft. The department has a complaints office open at Calle Zapatería 40 from 11:30 to 23:30 for these kinds of minor crimes. Read the original article.
From the Archive
Pamplona sets off rockets more than once during San Fermín. For readers curious what each one means once the running starts tomorrow, see our guide to the cohete system used during the encierro itself.
Compiled by the Encierro editorial team. encierro.com tracks Pamplona’s encierro, its city, and its fiesta year-round, with instruction from active bull runners who have run San Fermín for decades.