Pamplona · NavarreJuly 6–14, 2027
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San Fermín

The world's reference on the festival · Guides, the bull run and the calendar

157 photos · 10 galleries

San Fermín pictures: the festival, day by day

The best San Fermín pictures in one place: 157 freely licensed photos of Pamplona's festival, from the Chupinazo at noon on July 6 to the Pobre de mí at midnight on July 14. Browse them by moment — the Running of the Bulls, the procession, the giants, the fireworks — or scroll down to follow the festival day by day.

Browse by moment

Chupinazo (July 6)Chupinazo (July 6)9 photosProcession (July 7)Procession (July 7)7 photosRunning of the BullsRunning of the Bulls27 photosBullring & vaquillasBullring & vaquillas12 photosGiants & big-headsGiants & big-heads21 photosFireworksFireworks11 photosPobre de mí (July 14)Pobre de mí (July 14)10 photosStreet atmosphereStreet atmosphere30 photosThe bull run routeThe bull run route10 photosHistory & monumentsHistory & monuments20 photos

San Fermín day by day

July 6 — the Chupinazo

At 12:00 noon the Chupinazo rocket is fired from City Hall and the festival begins. The afternoon belongs to the peñas and their music. The official Riau-Riau — the city council's procession to the chapel of San Lorenzo — has not been held since 2012, but a popular version still takes place outside the official programme. We have not found freely licensed photos of it yet.

The City Hall balcony and square erupt moments after the Chupinazo opens San Fermín, July 6, 2008.
The City Hall balcony and square erupt moments after the Chupinazo opens San Fermín, July 6, 2008.Photo: Sergio Alvarez from Barcelona, Catalonia · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Chupinazo rocket shoots up from Pamplona City Hall to start the festival, July 6, 2007.
The Chupinazo rocket shoots up from Pamplona City Hall to start the festival, July 6, 2007.Photo: viajar24h.com · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Seconds before noon on July 6: the crowd holds red neckerchiefs aloft in the Town Hall square (2007).
Seconds before noon on July 6: the crowd holds red neckerchiefs aloft in the Town Hall square (2007).Photo: viajar24h.com · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The packed Town Hall square during the Chupinazo of 2003.
The packed Town Hall square during the Chupinazo of 2003.Photo: viajar24h.com · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Chupinazo (July 6) →

July 7 — San Fermín's day

The first bull run at 8:00 am, then the procession: the statue of the saint is carried through the Old Town with the giants and big-heads. It is the most intense morning of the whole festival.

One of the big-heads (cabezudos) that escort the procession on July 7, 2022.
One of the big-heads (cabezudos) that escort the procession on July 7, 2022.Photo: JLVwiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Close-up of a cabezudo from the troupe that accompanies the procession (2022).
Close-up of a cabezudo from the troupe that accompanies the procession (2022).Photo: JLVwiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The statue of San Fermín is carried through the Old Town during the July 7 procession (2018).
The statue of San Fermín is carried through the Old Town during the July 7 procession (2018).Photo: San Fermin Pamplona Navarra (Flickr) · CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
The statue of San Fermín makes its way through packed streets on July 7, 2018.
The statue of San Fermín makes its way through packed streets on July 7, 2018.Photo: San Fermin Pamplona Navarra (Flickr) · CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Procession (July 7) →

July 8

From July 8 the festival settles into its daily rhythm: bull run at 8:00 am, vaquillas in the bullring, giants in the streets, bullfight in the evening and fireworks at 11 pm.

Runners take on the bulls on Calle Estafeta (2013).
Runners take on the bulls on Calle Estafeta (2013).Photo: Atkins525 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Panorama of the crowd waiting for the bull run (2014).
Panorama of the crowd waiting for the bull run (2014).Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bulls resting in the corrals before the run (2014).
Bulls resting in the corrals before the run (2014).Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Locals watch the replay of the morning's bull run on a big screen (2014).
Locals watch the replay of the morning's bull run on a big screen (2014).Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Running of the Bulls →

July 9

Another morning of bull running, with the course packed with runners long before the rocket.

Black-and-white shot of the bull run of July 9, 2014.
Black-and-white shot of the bull run of July 9, 2014.Photo: Iñaki Larrea · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Seen from above: runners fill the course before the 8:00 am rocket (July 9, 2009).
Seen from above: runners fill the course before the 8:00 am rocket (July 9, 2009).Photo: ezioman · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A sea of white and red on the course moments before the bulls are released (2009).
A sea of white and red on the course moments before the bulls are released (2009).Photo: ezioman · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Runners gather along the route ahead of the July 9 bull run (2009).
Runners gather along the route ahead of the July 9 bull run (2009).Photo: ezioman · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Running of the Bulls →

July 10

After each run the young cows are released into the bullring, where hundreds of runners try their luck.

A young cow charges through the crowd in the bullring after the run (the vaquillas), July 10, 2007.
A young cow charges through the crowd in the bullring after the run (the vaquillas), July 10, 2007.Photo: Baltasar García · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Medics and police in the bullring during the vaquillas session (2007).
Medics and police in the bullring during the vaquillas session (2007).Photo: Baltasar García · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Runners dodge a young cow in the ring during the vaquillas (2007).
Runners dodge a young cow in the ring during the vaquillas (2007).Photo: Baltasar García · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The ring fills with runners for the vaquillas after the bull run (2007).
The ring fills with runners for the vaquillas after the bull run (2007).Photo: Baltasar García · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Bullring & vaquillas →

July 11

Along with the daily bull run, the festival keeps its smaller traditions, such as the children's flower offering to the saint at the chapel of San Lorenzo.

The statue of San Fermín leaves the chapel of San Lorenzo for the children's flower offering (2012).
The statue of San Fermín leaves the chapel of San Lorenzo for the children's flower offering (2012).Photo: Jrpvaldi · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Procession (July 7) →

July 12

The bull runs continue every morning at 8:00 am.

Runners sprint ahead of the herd during the bull run of July 12, 2011.
Runners sprint ahead of the herd during the bull run of July 12, 2011.Photo: Asier Solana Bermejo · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Running of the Bulls →

July 13

The day before the end: the giants are still dancing and the streets are as full as ever.

A giant towers over the street: San Fermín happens in the street (July 13, 2018).
A giant towers over the street: San Fermín happens in the street (July 13, 2018).Photo: San Fermin Pamplona Navarra (Flickr) · CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Revellers dressed in red and white (2009).
Revellers dressed in red and white (2009).Photo: rusticus80 · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Giants & big-heads →

July 14 — the farewell

The last bull run, the giants' farewell and, at midnight, the Pobre de mí in front of City Hall, with candles and red neckerchiefs.

The Town Hall square at the “Pobre de mí”, the midnight farewell on July 14, 2012.
The Town Hall square at the “Pobre de mí”, the midnight farewell on July 14, 2012.Photo: Iaramburu · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Red neckerchiefs held high at the Pobre de mí (2012).
Red neckerchiefs held high at the Pobre de mí (2012).Photo: Iaramburu · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Thousands sing “Pobre de mí” to close the festival (2012).
Thousands sing “Pobre de mí” to close the festival (2012).Photo: Iaramburu · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Town Hall square packed at night on July 14, 2018.
The Town Hall square packed at night on July 14, 2018.Photo: San Fermin Pamplona Navarra (Flickr) · CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
See the gallery: Pobre de mí (July 14) →