The rocket system is one of the most fundamental yet most misunderstood aspects of the encierro. New runners often arrive with outdated or conflicting information about how many rockets are fired and what each one signifies. The city’s own rules are clear: four rockets are fired during each encierro, and each one marks a stage of the run. Understanding what each rocket means helps runners and spectators know where the bulls are in the course and what they should expect in the next few minutes. This knowledge is not abstract; it is practical and directly relevant to making smart decisions on the morning of San Fermin.
What the City’s Rules Say
The Ayuntamiento de Pamplona sets the rocket signals in its Ordenanza municipal del encierro (Article 3) and repeats them in the Bando de San Fermin 2026 (Article 5.2). Both list four rockets: the first at the opening of the gate of the Corrales de Santo Domingo, the second when the last bull has left the corrals, the third when all the bulls are in the bullring, and the fourth when the last bull enters the bullring corrals. The Bando words the first signal as fired just before the gate opens, and the Ordenanza words it as fired when the gate opens, so treat the first rocket as the gate opening.
Some guides and some runners describe fewer than four, and in the noise of the morning the signals can be hard to tell apart. The city publishes its Bando each June, so check the current one before you run.
The First Rocket: The Corral Door Opens
The first rocket is fired at 8:00 am as the gate of the Corrales de Santo Domingo opens. The church bells of San Saturnino ring at eight, and the rocket follows shortly after.
“If you’re near San Saturnino, the Iglesia de San Saturnino, you’ll hear the church bells go at eight, and you’ll hear that rocket shortly after.”
Dennis Clancey, Founder of Encierro
For runners standing on Santo Domingo waiting for the bulls, the sound of that first rocket is an unmistakable signal that the corral has opened and the bulls are now being released. This is the moment when the waiting ends and the encierro begins in earnest. It is the gate opening, not the herd arriving.
The Second Rocket: The Last Bull Has Left the Corrals
The second rocket is fired when the last bull has left the corrals. It indicates that all six bulls have exited and are now on the street moving up Santo Domingo. This rocket is particularly important for runners positioned lower on the course (Santo Domingo and Mercaderes) because it confirms that the entire herd is in motion.
The Third Rocket: All the Bulls Are in the Bullring
The third rocket is fired when all the bulls are in the bullring. It tells everyone on the route that the herd has finished its run through the streets. But it is critical to understand what this means for individual runners:
“Your run is not over until you’re off the run route. Don’t worry about that third rocket.”
Dennis Clancey, Founder of Encierro
This is one of the most important pieces of practical advice for runners on the course. Runners who are still on the route or still moving through the final sections should not interpret any rocket as permission to stop paying attention. Safety remains critical until every runner is off the route and in a secure location.
The Fourth Rocket: The Last Bull Is in the Corrals
The fourth rocket is fired when the last bull enters the corrals of the bullring. That is the signal that the encierro is finished for the bulls. The third rocket says the herd has reached the ring; the fourth says the last bull is secured in the corrals.
Critical Advice: Distinguishing Rockets from Other Loud Sounds
One practical challenge runners face on the morning of the encierro is distinguishing the official rockets from other loud sounds in the town. The Ordenanza prohibits firing rockets, firecrackers or any other pyrotechnics in the city that could be confused with the encierro rockets between 7:00 and 8:30 am (Article 4.11.q), and treats it as a minor infraction (Article 8.9). Dennis warns that it still happens:
“There are times where you’ll hear people set off very loud fireworks or bang sounds in the town that can be confused for a rocket.”
Dennis Clancey, Founder of Encierro
During San Fermin, fireworks and celebrations are continuous. In the early morning, people may set off noise-makers or fireworks in the streets or plazas. For a runner unfamiliar with the sound of the official encierro rockets, these sounds can create confusion about whether the bulls have been released. The official rockets have a specific, distinctive sound, and experience helps runners recognize them. For first-time runners, the best approach is to rely on the behavior of other runners around you and the movement of the herd, rather than trying to interpret every loud sound as a potential rocket.
The Rockets and the Unpredictable Morning
The rockets give everyone on and around the route a shared timeline for the morning. They do not tell you what any single bull will do. One of the stories Dennis shared illustrates the rarity of certain events in the modern encierro:
“There was one particular case where a bull ran up about to where it meets the red line where the people are. And the bull turned around, just went back in the corral and stayed there.”
Dennis Clancey, Founder of Encierro
This story highlights how unusual it is for a bull to turn back toward the corral once it is released. The herd is highly motivated to move forward through the street, and the pastores manage them to ensure this. But on rare occasions, unpredictable events occur.
The Rockets as Psychological Anchor
For runners preparing mentally before the encierro, understanding what the rockets mean helps create a timeline and mental framework for the event. Knowing that the first rocket signals the corral opening allows a runner to mentally prepare for the next steps. Knowing that the second rocket confirms the last bull is out of the corrals tells a runner that the whole herd is on the street. The third rocket says the herd is in the ring, and the fourth says the last bull is secured, but a runner’s responsibility remains until they are off the route.
This knowledge, combined with the visualization and preparation that Dennis emphasizes, helps runners transform the encierro from an abstract and chaotic event into something with a comprehensible structure.
Vocabulario: Spanish Terms Related to Rockets and Timeline
Cohete (coh-HEH-teh): A rocket. The term applies to the pyrotechnic signals fired during the encierro.
Encierrillo (en-see-ehr-REE-yoh): The night-before movement of bulls, separate from the rockets of the actual morning encierro.
Pastor (pahs-TOR): A herder who manages the bulls through the route.
Iglesia de San Saturnino (ee-GLEH-see-ah): The church whose bells ring at 8:00 am, shortly before the first rocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rockets are fired during the encierro?
Four. According to the city’s Ordenanza municipal del encierro (Article 3) and the Bando de San Fermin 2026 (Article 5.2), the first rocket is fired at the opening of the Corrales de Santo Domingo gate (8:00 am), the second when the last bull has left the corrals, the third when all the bulls are in the bullring, and the fourth when the last bull enters the bullring corrals. Some guides and some runners describe fewer, so check the city’s current Bando.
What does the second rocket mean?
The second rocket indicates that the last bull has left the corrals, so all six bulls are out and moving up Santo Domingo. For runners waiting on the course, it confirms that the entire herd is in motion toward them.
Does the third rocket mean I should stop running?
No. The third rocket indicates that all the bulls are in the bullring, but you must remain aware and continue moving if you are still on the route. Your responsibility as a runner continues until you are safely off the run route and away from the barriers. Do not assume the course is safe simply because a rocket has fired.
What if I’m not sure I heard the first rocket?
Look at the runners around you. When the bulls are released, the entire crowd of runners will begin to move toward the starting point or along the route with anticipation. You can also watch for the movement of police and the general shift in the atmosphere. If in doubt, stay with the flow of the crowd and maintain awareness of your position.
Master the Timeline of the Encierro
The rocket system is one tool for understanding the timeline of the encierro, but it is only one piece. Our preparation sessions walk you through the complete timeline, explaining what the rockets mean and how they fit into the overall structure of the morning. Learn the route geography or book a tour with Encierro and understand the encierro from the moment the church bells ring at 8:00 am.