The bullfighting program held at the Marbella Bullring during 2026 officially consisted of two bullfights:

• The San Bernabé Fair bullfight, on June 13.
• The traditional Corrida de Candiles, on August 7.

No novilladas (bullfights with young bulls), rejoneo (mounted bullfights), practical classes, or recortadores (bull-leaping contests) were scheduled as part of the official bullfighting season presented by the City Council. The organizing company was Arenal Marbella Toros, and the entire season was dedicated to master Manolo González, who was closely associated with the city.

June 13: San Bernabé Fair bullfight

Lineup

• Morante de la Puebla
• Alejandro Talavante
• David de Miranda
• Six bulls from El Freixo

The bullfight took place at 7:30 PM and was “Sold Out”. The anticipation was especially high due to Morante’s return and the presence of Talavante and David de Miranda, who arrived in Marbella after a very successful season.

Result

• Morante de la Puebla: ovation —or applause, according to the chronicle— and one ear.
• Alejandro Talavante: one ear and two ears.
• David de Miranda: two ears and two ears.

Talavante and David de Miranda were carried out on shoulders through the Puerta Grande (Main Gate).

Morante de la Puebla

Morante delivered his best moments with the fourth bull. He received it with personality with the cape and built a measured performance with a distinct artistic flavor. The bull had good qualities, although it was short on strength. A prior sword prick reduced the prize to one ear.

With the first bull, he had shown some quality verónicas, but the animal offered few possibilities, and the performance did not reach sufficient heights.

Alejandro Talavante

Talavante was one of the big names of the afternoon. He cut an ear from the second bull after a tempered, profound performance, especially notable on the left hand.

His most complete performance came with the fifth bull, an animal that grew in stature when pushed and skillfully fought. Talavante began the performance on his knees, with passes changed behind his back, and alternated showy moments with others of fundamental bullfighting. A good sword thrust allowed him to cut two ears.

David de Miranda

David de Miranda was the numerical winner of the bullfight, cutting four ears.

His first bull, “Laborioso”, was the most outstanding animal of the event. It had class, depth, endurance, and transmission. David de Miranda delivered a performance of great dedication and courage, and the public even requested a pardon. Finally, he killed it with a great sword thrust and paraded two ears. The bull was awarded a lap of honor around the ring after its death.

With the sixth bull, the most complicated of the lot, he again demonstrated firmness, confidence, and ability to dominate. He fought it with both hands, closed distances in the final section, and cut another two ears.

Breeding Farm Assessment

The bullfight from El Freixo, a breeding farm owned by Julián López “El Juli,” was noble and generally had class, although it showed inconsistencies in build and behavior.

The third bull, “Laborioso,” clearly stood out, being awarded a lap of honor. The bulls fought by Talavante also offered possibilities, while the first had less strength and the sixth presented greater difficulties.

San Bernabé Winners

1. David de Miranda: four ears.
2. Alejandro Talavante: three ears.
3. Morante de la Puebla: one ear.

The absolute winner of this bullfight was David de Miranda, both for the number of trophies and for his performance with “Laborioso.” Talavante also had an important afternoon and opened the Puerta Grande.

August 7: Corrida de Candiles

Lineup

• Morante de la Puebla
• José María Manzanares
• Aarón Palacio
• Six bulls from Cayetano Muñoz

The traditional Corrida de Candiles began around 9:30 PM and also registered a “Sold Out” crowd. Due to the large influx of public at the entrances, the event started a few minutes late.

Before the first bull came out, a tribute was paid to master Manolo González, the figure to whom the Marbella 2026 bullfighting season was dedicated.

Result

• Morante de la Puebla: one ear and one ear.
• José María Manzanares: two ears and silence after warning.
• Aarón Palacio: two ears and one ear.

All three bullfighters were carried out on shoulders.

Morante de la Puebla

Morante cut one ear from each bull.

With the first, an animal short on strength but with a certain class, he fought smoothly and delivered some quality natural passes. He was effective with the sword and paraded the first trophy of the night.

The fourth bull had even less strength and even prompted requests for its return. Morante resorted to patience and knowledge of the terrain to build a performance based more on his personality and way of interpreting bullfighting than on the bull’s qualities. A detached sword thrust allowed him to cut another ear.

José María Manzanares

Manzanares found in the second bull one of the most useful of the bullfight. Although it didn’t have extraordinary class, it did have mobility and good stamina.

The bullfighter from Alicante gradually built up the performance, linked series cleanly, and delivered beautifully crafted passages. After a full sword thrust, he paraded two ears and secured his exit on shoulders.

With the fifth bull, he performed an interesting job and managed to take advantage of the bull’s qualities, which showed fixity and a certain dedication. However, he failed with the sword and lost the chance to add new trophies.

Aarón Palacio

Aarón Palacio was the great winner of the Corrida de Candiles, with three ears.

He received the third bull with several kneeling ‘faroles’ (cape passes) and showed an ambitious and determined attitude from the start. He also began the muleta performance on his knees, immediately connecting with the audience. The bull had nobility and mobility, although it eventually lost strength. Palacio maintained the intensity, closed with ‘manoletinas’ (cape passes), and cut two ears.

With the sixth bull, he showed a more measured approach. The bull had little strength and charged at mid-height, so the bullfighter had to manage its conditions and reduce the pace of the performance. He paraded one ear and ended the night as the top numerical winner.

Breeding Farm Assessment

The bulls from Cayetano Muñoz were well-presented but generally lacked strength. The most promising animals were the second, third, and fifth.

The third bull was applauded after its death, having allowed Aarón Palacio’s first performance. However, the bullfight did not have the depth or duration of the one fought by El Freixo in June.

Corrida de Candiles Winners

1. Aarón Palacio: three ears.
2. Morante de la Puebla: two ears.
3. José María Manzanares: two ears.

Aarón Palacio was the main name of the night, for his ambition, youth, and ability to compete in a lineup alongside two established figures.

Complete Marbella 2026 Season Overview

Number of Events

• 2 bullfights.
• 12 bulls fought.
• 6 bullfighters announced, although Morante performed in both bullfights.
• 0 novilladas (young bullfights).
• 0 rejoneo (mounted bullfights).
• 0 mixed events.
• 0 recortadores (bull-leaping contests).
• 0 practical classes from bullfighting schools.

The season had a reduced format, concentrated on two highly impactful events: San Bernabé and the Corrida de Candiles.

Total Trophies per Bullfighter

Morante was the only bullfighter who performed twice: he cut one ear at San Bernabé and two at the Corrida de Candiles.

Carried Out on Shoulders

• David de Miranda.
• Alejandro Talavante.
• Aarón Palacio.
• Morante de la Puebla.
• José María Manzanares.

David de Miranda and Talavante were carried out on shoulders on June 13. Morante, Manzanares, and Aarón Palacio were on August 7.

Overall Season Winner

I have not found an official awards decision that formally proclaimed an overall season winner. Based on the results:

• David de Miranda was the top numerical winner, with four ears in a single bullfight.
• Aarón Palacio was the winner of the Corrida de Candiles, with three ears.
• Alejandro Talavante also obtained three ears and delivered one of the most artistically outstanding performances at San Bernabé.
• Morante accumulated three trophies across his two appearances.

Therefore, the main name of Marbella 2026 was David de Miranda, while Aarón Palacio can be considered the great revelation of the season.

Best Bull

The most outstanding bull was “Laborioso”, from El Freixo, fought in third place by David de Miranda during the San Bernabé bullfight.

• It was awarded a lap of honor after its death.
• The public even requested its pardon.
• It allowed for the most important performance of the season.
• It showed class, depth, endurance, and transmission.

Most Outstanding Breeding Farm

The bullfight from El Freixo was the most complete of Marbella 2026. It offered greater nobility, class, and chances of triumph than the Cayetano Muñoz bullfight, which was more hampered by a lack of strength.

Key Conclusions

The Marbella 2026 bullfighting season was brief but received an extraordinary public response: both bullfights were “Sold Out”.

The San Bernabé bullfight had greater importance in terms of breeding and bullfighting, especially due to David de Miranda’s performance with “Laborioso” and Talavante’s three-ear afternoon. The Corrida de Candiles had a more festive and popular character, and served to confirm Aarón Palacio’s projection against Morante and Manzanares.

Overall, the key names of Marbella 2026 were:

• David de Miranda, top winner.
• Aarón Palacio, great revelation.
• Alejandro Talavante, one of the most artistically outstanding bullfighters.
• “Laborioso”, best bull.
• El Freixo, most important breeding farm.
• Manolo González, honored figure throughout the season.