Fallas: Una feria esplendorosa
Fallas: Una feria esplendorosa
Fallas: A Spectacular Fair
The Fallas Fair 2025
March arrives, and with it, Las Fallas—the first major bullfighting fair of the year—which in 2025 offers an exciting programme. Here’s a detailed rundown of the events to help you decide which ones to attend. Which will you choose?
Valencia is set to host a spectacular Feria de Fallas this March, featuring a programme where the top bullfighters, as in past decades, take centre stage, each appearing twice to give added prestige to the first major bullfighting cycle of the season in a first-class venue.
The likes of Manzanares, Talavante, and, of course, Roca Rey form the backbone of the lineup, which also includes exciting highlights such as the debut of last year’s standout novice bullfighter, Alejandro Chicharro, and a highly anticipated mano a mano (head-to-head) featuring bulls from the renowned Santa Coloma bloodline of La Quinta.
The fair includes six bullfights, two novice fights with picadors, one rejoneo (mounted bullfighting) event, a novice fight without picadors, and three practice sessions. This impressive lineup is organised by Nautalia and will take place between 8 and 19 March.
The fair kicks off with the novice fights, featuring the best up-and-coming talent. Aarón Palacio (winner of the Zapato de Oro in Arnedo), Marco Pérez (a leading novice bullfighter), and Valencia’s own Juan Alberto Torrijos will open the festivities on Saturday, 8 March, facing bulls from Talavante’s ranch.
Before the main bullfights begin, Thursday 13 March will feature El Mene (winner of multiple awards, including the Castilla y León novice competition, the Vid de Oro in Arganda, and El Alfarero in Villaseca), along with Seville’s Javier Zulueta and Valencia’s Simón Andreu, taking on bulls from Fuente Ymbro. Between these dates, there will also be a novice fight without picadors on Sunday, 9 March, and three practice sessions on 10, 11, and 12 March.
The main bullfights begin on Friday, 14 March, with seasoned matadors Miguel Ángel Perera and Paco Ureña joined by rising star Fernando Adrián, facing bulls from El Parralejo. On Saturday, 15 March, Alejandro Chicharro will take his alternativa (a ceremonial promotion to professional bullfighting) in one of the fair’s most exciting lineups, with Talavante and Roca Rey as his padrino (mentor) and witness, respectively, fighting bulls from Victoriano del Río.
Roca Rey will return to the ring 24 hours later (Sunday, 16 March) alongside Manzanares and Tomás Rufo, with bulls from Jandilla—a match promising high drama. On Monday, 17 March, a star-studded lineup featuring Castella, Luque, and Emilio de Justo will take on bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq.
Tuesday, 18 March, will see Manzanares and Talavante return, joined by Juan Ortega, as they face bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo. To close the main bullfights, on Wednesday, 19 March, a fascinating mano a mano will take place between Román, Valencia’s leading bullfighter, and Borja Jiménez, the breakout star of last year, who excelled in Valencia, Seville, Madrid, Pamplona, and beyond. The two will take on bulls from La Quinta, adding an extra layer of intrigue to what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Rounding out the programme is a top-tier rejoneo event on the morning of Sunday, 16 March, featuring Rui Fernandes, Diego Ventura, and Léa Vicens, who will face bulls from Bohórquez.
José Miguel Arruego
Bullfighting journalist