San Fermín 2027
Nine days in red and white, beginning with a single rocket at noon.
Countdown to San Fermín 2027
Dates
When is San Fermín?
San Fermín 2027 falls from Tuesday, 6 July 2027 to Wednesday, 14 July 2027.
San Fermín is held on fixed dates, 6 to 14 July, every year.
Date checked against en.wikipedia.org
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 – 14 July 2026Mon – Tue | 9 days | Past |
| 2027 | 6 – 14 July 2027Tue – Wed | 9 days | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Parade & Carnival
- Tradition
- Christian
- Where
- Pamplona, Navarre
- Crowd
- Large crowds in Pamplona across nine days
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
At noon on 6 July a rocket goes up from Pamplona's town hall balcony, and a city dressed in white with red scarves begins nine days of celebration in honour of its patron saint.
San Fermín honours Fermin, an early bishop said to have been born in Pamplona. The festival brings together a religious procession, street music, giant figures, fireworks and bullfighting, and has been held in July since the late sixteenth century.
Its best-known event is the encierro — the running of the bulls — each morning from 7 to 14 July, when runners go ahead of the animals along a route of under a kilometre to the bullring. The festival's appeal also lies in the quieter rituals: the procession of the saint on 7 July, and the closing candlelit song of 'Pobre de mí' at midnight on the 14th.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of San Fermín
Traditions
What actually happens
- Chupinazo — the rocket fired at noon on 6 July to open the festival.
- Encierro — the morning bull run through the old town, from 7 to 14 July.
- Procession of San Fermín — the saint's statue carried through the streets on 7 July.
- Gigantes y cabezudos — giant figures and big-headed characters dancing through the streets.
Food
The table, widened
- Chistorra sausage, pintxos and Navarrese asparagus in the old town bars.
- Ajoarriero salt-cod and hot chocolate with churros after the night.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Peñas — social clubs with their own brass bands — fill the streets and the bullring with music. The txistu flute and drum accompany the giants.
Religion
Why this date
The festival is a patronal feast, with Mass and a procession for the saint. Many of its traditions are secular, and the day-to-day life of the festival is largely civic.
History
How it survived
The festival moved to July in 1591 to coincide with summer fairs. Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises' brought it to international attention. Bull running and bullfighting are a matter of debate, and animal-welfare groups campaign against them each year.
History
How it got here
The festival moved to July in 1591 to coincide with summer fairs. Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises' brought it to international attention. Bull running and bullfighting are a matter of debate, and animal-welfare groups campaign against them each year.
1591
Moved to July
The feast is moved to coincide with the summer fair.
1926
Hemingway
'The Sun Also Rises' introduces the festival to readers abroad.
1941
Chupinazo
The opening rocket from the town hall balcony becomes an official event.
Today
Nine days
The festival runs from 6 to 14 July every year.
Travel & practical
Visiting Pamplona for San Fermín
Getting there
Pamplona has a small airport; Bilbao and Madrid are more common gateways, with buses and trains onwards.
Watching the encierro
Spectator spots along the barriers fill very early. Balcony places can be rented, and the bullring offers seats too.
Practical notes
Running is dangerous and only for adults in good condition. Hotels fill months ahead and prices rise sharply.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
San Fermín: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about San Fermín.
When is San Fermín in 2026 and 2027?
The festival is fixed to 6–14 July every year: from Monday 6 to Tuesday 14 July 2026, and from Tuesday 6 to Wednesday 14 July 2027. Bull runs take place each morning from 7 to 14 July.
Do I have to run with the bulls?
No. Most visitors never run, and there is plenty to see without doing so.
Why red and white?
The red scarf is often linked to the martyrdom of Saint Fermin; white clothing became the custom in the twentieth century.
Is it suitable for families?
The daytime giants' parades and fireworks are family-friendly; the nights and runs are more intense.
Also in July 2027
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Other parade & carnival and christian festivals.
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