Bulls in the street in Alcalà de Xivert and Alcossebre

Bous al carrer — literally "bulls in the street" — is a Valencian tradition in which bulls and heifers are released into a fenced-off area of the town rather than a bullring, and are not killed. The most characteristic act is the bou embolat: a bull that enters the enclosure carrying flaming balls fixed to its horns by metal frames.

In Alcalà de Xivert the events run for five consecutive afternoons; in Alcossebre the format is gentler, with heifers. Both are free to attend and both have strict age rules, set out below.

• Alcalà de Xivert — VII Setmana Taurina Gaspatxera: Monday 24 to Friday 28 August 2026, at the bullring enclosure.
• Alcalà — VII National Emboladors Contest: Thursday 27 August, 23:00.
• Alcalà — VIII Encierro Campero (mounted country bull-run): Friday 28 August, 12:00.
• Alcossebre — bull afternoons: Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September 2026, 18:00 to 20:30.

On Tuesday 25 at 11:00 there is also the urban transhumance: seven animals of a breed not used for fighting are walked through the streets to the enclosure.

• 12:00 — Bulls led through the village.
• 18:00 to 21:00 — Testing session in the enclosure, part of the ranch competition. During the break there are children’s mock bulls (no live animals) by the El Senyo association, and a different brass band each afternoon.
• 21:15 — Herd release.
• 22:00 — Bou embolat, the flaming-horn bull.

Monday 24 August — 12:00 bulls through the village (Javier Tárrega “El Gallo”, Moncòfar). 18:00 first afternoon: El Salero (Montserrat, València). 21:15 herd release. 22:00 flaming-horn bull, by Emboladors El Foc.

Tuesday 25 August — 11:00 urban transhumance (Germán Vidal, Cabanes). 12:00 bulls through the village (Perera García). 18:00 second afternoon: Fernando Machancoses (Cheste, València). 22:00 flaming-horn bull, by Emboladors El Foc.

Wednesday 26 August — 12:00 bulls through the village (Bous la Ribera). 18:00 third afternoon: Dani Machancoses (Picassent, València). 22:00 flaming-horn bull, by Emboladores Hierro y Arena (Cabanes).

Thursday 27 August — the big night — 18:00 fourth afternoon: La Paloma (Xaló, Alicante). 21:15 herd release (Jaime Tàrrega “Lucas”, Vilafamés). 23:00 VII National Emboladors Contest. 01:30 mobile disco with DJ Bacardit.

Friday 28 August — 8:00 running of 6 bulls through the streets. 12:00 VIII Encierro Campero, the mounted country bull-run, followed by bulls through the village (Hermanos Barberán, Zorita del Maestrazgo). 18:00 fifth afternoon: Germán Vidal (Cabanes). 21:15 herd release (Sergio Rua, Albocàsser). 22:00 flaming-horn bull, by Emboladors El Foc.

The highest-profile bull event of the festival, and the one that draws visitors from outside the municipality. Thursday 27 August at 23:00 in the Alcalà enclosure, with traditional irons and bulls from the Germán Vidal ranch.

Six of Spain’s leading teams compete: El Foc (Alcalà de Xivert), Los Torontos (Alcanar, Tarragona), San Roque (Zaragoza), Camarles (Tarragona), 21 de Juliol (Moncòfar, Castellón) and La Sierra de Albarracín (Teruel).

Note the diary clash: that same morning La Vuelta a España starts its stage in Alcossebre and rides through Alcalà, which makes 27 August the busiest day of the whole festival.

Gentler format: heifer afternoons from 18:00 to 20:30, with children’s mock bulls at 20:45.

• Thursday 3 September — Laura Parejo (Cabanes). 22:30 flaming-horn bull, by Emboladors Benicarló.
• Friday 4 September — Ponce Meliá (Azuébar, Castellón). 22:30, by Emboladors La Tenalla (Torreblanca).
• Saturday 5 September — Sergio Rua (Albocàsser). 22:30, by Emboladors La Tenalla.
• Sunday 6 September — Jaime Tàrrega “Lucas” (Vilafamés). 21:30, half an hour earlier than the other days, because the fire show starts at 22:00 and the closing fireworks at 23:00.

A note on the source: the official programme contradicts itself on the Thursday 3 September event. The summary table announces Javier Tàrrega “El Gallo” at 22:00; the day-by-day programme says Laura Parejo at 22:30. We follow the day-by-day version, which is the detailed one.

These are set out in the official programme and matter if you are travelling with children or older relatives:

• People under 16 and over 65, and anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, may not remain inside the enclosure.
• Placing any obstacle — fences, bins — at the bull entrances and exits is forbidden.
• Selling alcohol to under-18s is forbidden.
• The organisers accept no liability for anyone who fails to keep a safe distance from the barriers, the mascletà or the fireworks.

For children there are mock bulls by the El Senyo association, with no live animals: in Alcalà during the break, in Alcossebre at 20:45.

The five Setmana Taurina afternoons and the emboladors contest are held at the Alcalà de Xivert bullring enclosure. Alcalà is about 7 km inland from the coast, so if you are staying in Alcossebre you will need a car.

The Alcossebre afternoons, 3 to 6 September, are held in the coastal town, near the marquee ground on the Tomás Vallés seafront promenade.

On event days there are road closures and parking in the centre becomes difficult. Allow extra time and check the free parking areas and the getting around guide. The hardest day is 27 August, which combines La Vuelta in the morning with the emboladors contest at night.

See also the full festival programme and the accommodation guide — these are among the busiest weeks of the year.