Chupinazo pictures: the moment San Fermín begins

At 12:00 noon on July 6 a rocket is fired from the balcony of Pamplona City Hall and the whole square ties on its red neckerchief at once. These photos capture the Chupinazo from every angle: the crowd holding their neckerchiefs aloft in the seconds before noon, the rocket itself and the explosion of cava, confetti and joy that follows.

Planning to be there? Read our guide to how to experience the Chupinazo.