Valencia Review – 11 October 2026

The bullfighting season at Valencia’s bullring came to a close on Sunday with a novillada with picadors, in which Juan Alberto Torrijos and Ignacio Garibay each earned a trophy. The event formed part of the programme marking Valencian Community Day and brought to an end the three bullfights organised to celebrate the occasion.

With around half the seats occupied, the novillos from Casa de los Toreros delivered mixed performances. However, one animal stood out: Cariñoso, the fourth novillo, which was fought as a replacement, earned a lap of honour for its excellent performance.

Torrijos and Garibay were rewarded for their efforts, while Javier Cuartero came close to joining them among the afternoon’s trophy winners after a performance that earned him a lap of honour.

Juan Alberto Torrijos makes the most of Cariñoso’s quality

Juan Alberto Torrijos delivered committed performances against both of his opponents. With the first novillo of his lot, the Valencian novillero gave a performance that won the appreciation of the crowd, although it did not result in a trophy. Following a request for an ear, he took a lap of honour.

His finest moment came against the second novillo of his lot, a replacement from Casa de los Toreros that stood out for its qualities and became the afternoon’s leading performer from a livestock perspective. Named Cariñoso, the animal charged with quality, allowing Torrijos to develop a more substantial faena.

The novillero made the most of the opportunities presented by the animal and established the connection with the crowd needed to bring his performance to a satisfying conclusion. His work was rewarded with an ear, amid further demands for a greater prize.

Cariñoso’s quality was also recognised in the ring: the novillo was awarded a lap of honour, marking it out as the finest animal of the afternoon.

Javier Cuartero comes close to a trophy in his second appearance

Javier Cuartero had fewer opportunities with the second novillo of the afternoon and struggled to find the consistency needed to build a triumphant faena. His performance ended in silence from the crowd.

The picture changed with the second novillo of his lot. The Alicante-born novillero showed determination and produced several promising passages that brought him close to claiming an ear. However, the animal repeatedly struggled to remain down after falling, a circumstance that affected the conclusion of the faena.

In the end, Cuartero was awarded a lap of honour, recognition for a performance in which he came close to achieving a more favourable result.

Ignacio Garibay earns his reward for commitment

Ignacio Garibay also had to wait until his second appearance to collect a trophy. Facing the third novillo, the Mexican novillero gave a performance that was acknowledged with an ovation, although the animal offered insufficient opportunities for a greater reward.

Against the sixth and final novillo of the event, Garibay persevered and was rewarded for his determination. His commitment allowed him to build a faena that connected with the crowd and ultimately earned him an ear.

The trophy provided a positive conclusion to his appearance in Valencia and placed him alongside Torrijos among the novilleros rewarded at the season’s final bullfight.

A special farewell at the end of the Valencia season

The final novillada of the year in Valencia also produced several noteworthy moments from the supporting cuadrillas. Sergio Pérez and Jesús Robledo, known as Tito, acknowledged the applause after placing the banderillas on the first novillo. Ismael López did the same after banderillear the second, while Tito returned to acknowledge the crowd alongside Felipe Gravito following their work with the fourth.

The afternoon also carried an emotional note with the retirement of Zamora-born banderillero Javier Gómez Pascual. At the end of the event, the torero de plata cut off his coleta, bringing his professional career in the bullring to a close.

The novillada marked the end of the bullfighting season at Valencia’s bullring on Calle de Xàtiva. Juan Alberto Torrijos and Ignacio Garibay shared the trophies, Javier Cuartero delivered a meritorious performance, and Cariñoso emerged as the standout animal of the afternoon.