Pamplona officially opens San Fermín 2026 with the traditional “chupinazo,” a mass rocket launch held in front of a packed Town Hall/City Hall square. The ceremony begins the festival’s nine-day run, drawing crowds to the central square as the launch signals the start of scheduled events for the week.
Following the chupinazo, the festival calendar moves toward the first bull run, which is set to take place on Tuesday. The opening ceremony is presented as the customary kickoff for the celebrations, marking the transition from preparations into the main sequence of events that Pamplona hosts during the holiday period.
Both reports describe the same key elements: the chupinazo is launched to officially start San Fermín 2026, it takes place in Pamplona’s central town hall square with large crowds present, and it precedes the first bull running event scheduled for the following day. The focus remains on the timing and the public opening ritual that launches the festival.
