Upcoming celebrations

The Alicante bullring is a second-category bullring according to the Royal Decree, which organizes bullrings into three categories, based on age, tradition, size, and the number of annual bullfights. It is also one of the oldest operating bullrings in the Valencian Community.

The first recorded bullfight held in Alicante was held in 1700 to commemorate the centenary of the conversion of the current Cathedral of San Nicolás into a Collegiate Church. Since the early 18th century, bullfights in Alicante have been held in various locations, such as the Plaza del Mar and the Plaza de San Francisco. A temporary wooden bullring was built in 1839 in the Barranquet.

The Alicante bullring was originally built in 1848 according to the designs of the architect Emilio Jover, but it wasn’t until 1888, after the renovation by José Guardiola Picó, that the bullring gained even greater importance, offering nearly 16,000 seats for a city that then had a population of 19,000. Its inauguration took place from June 15th to 17th of that same year, with bullfights by “Lagartijo”, “Gue”, and “Lagartijo”. The bullring is divided into stands on the first floor, grandstands on the second, and boxes and tiers on the third. It has a capacity for 11,300 spectators and is located on the Villafranqueza road, opposite the Plaza de España.

From June 16 to 24, Alicante’s bullring was once again the centerpiece of the Hogueras festival. A total of 54,160 spectators filled its stands for the eight shows held, confirming that bullfighting is more vibrant than ever and that the Plaza de España bullring has once again served as a centerpiece for the city and an economic driving force, particularly for the hospitality sector.

A fair that was also the most international in history. The numbers speak for themselves. The online ticket sales program of the company Eventos Mare Nostrum, which manages the bullring, reveals that spectators came from forty different countries. The following were present: Germany, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United States, Estonia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Singapore, Syria, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States.

The series, organized once again this year by Eventos Mare Nostrum with Nacho Lloret and David Caballero at the helm, made it clear that audiences respond to programs based on quality and interest. Few shows in the city can boast a similar turnout. Another striking statistic is the nearly eleven thousand spectators who attended the practical classes for students of the Bullfighting Schools on weekdays 18 and 19. Using a football analogy, it’s as if more than five thousand people were attending a cadet or youth team training session.

The impact of

José Tomás

His presence had an economic impact of €4,850,000, according to the National Association of Bullfighting Show Organizers (ANOET). According to the organization, more than 6,000 people from outside the city traveled to Alicante to witness the bullfight.