Olivenza: 35 Years Setting the Trend

Thirty-five years ago, promoter José Cutiño created a bullfighting fair in Olivenza. It was, in many ways, an invention, as during the first week of March this town in Extremadura has no traditional festivities or obvious reason to stage bullfights. However, Cutiño saw the Olivenza bullring as the perfect setting for the sport’s leading figures to open their season year after year. More than three decades later, that original idea remains firmly in place, with the fair, its format and its model continuing to set the trend.

Since then, many other early-season fairs have emerged, top bullfighters now appear in more venues, and performers arrive increasingly well prepared at Castellón and Valencia. Yet no early-season festival has achieved the prestige and status of this fair in the province of Badajoz. Concentrated into the first weekend of March, it brings together the very best of the matadors’ rankings alongside the most exciting newcomers on the novice scene.

For example, on Friday 6 March, the festival opens with a novillada featuring bulls from Talavante’s breeding, and three promising young names: the Portuguese Tomás Bastos, regarded as Portugal’s great hope in bullfighting on foot, who enjoys strong support from fans across the nearby border; Madrid-born Olga Casado, who made a highly successful debut in this very ring a year ago; and local bullfighter David Gutiérrez, who has won every major award as a novice without picadors and now makes his debut with picadors in front of his home crowd.

The following day, Saturday 7 March, is dedicated to the artists of the profession. José María Manzanares, Daniel Luque and Juan Ortega come together to face six bulls from the Puerto de San Lorenzo stud. It is an especially attractive and well-balanced line-up, ideal for those who come to Olivenza with the simple aim of enjoying fine bullfighting. All three matadors are renowned for their refined style and deep understanding of the art.

Sunday 8 March features a full day of action, beginning with a morning bullfight clearly focused on the future. Borja Jiménez, David de Miranda and Marco Pérez take on three bulls from Domingo Hernández and three from La Ventana del Puerto—two highly respected breeding farms—offering fans the chance to closely follow the progress of three young matadors determined to make their mark in 2026 and earn a place among the elite of the fair circuit.

The programme concludes that same afternoon with what is arguably the most complete line-up of the entire festival. Two of the sport’s leading figures, Talavante and Roca Rey, are joined by another outstanding matador and one of the main protagonists of recent seasons, Extremadura’s own Emilio de Justo. Having already triumphed in this arena in previous years, he begins the new season firmly established among the elite. The bulls, another guarantee of quality, come from the renowned Victoriano del Río breeding.

Everything is in place for Olivenza to set the standard once again at the start of the season. The finest breeders, the biggest names in bullfighting, the most talked-about young talents and the strongest novice projects all come together here. To complete the experience, a wide range of complementary activities surrounds the fair, adding colour and interest to a truly unique festival. All that’s missing is you.