Feria de Pedro Romero (Corrida Goyesca)
Ronda's biggest fair fills the first week of September (September 1–6 in 2026) and peaks with the Corrida Goyesca: bullfighters and spectators dressed in 18th-century style inside a bullring built in 1785. The fairground itself is free; the bullfighting events are ticketed and sell out within hours.
What the Feria de Pedro Romero is
This is Ronda's biggest fair, held in the first week of September (September 1–6 in 2026), centered on the Real at the Ángel Harillo fairground: twelve casetas run by local peñas coordinated by ASOPE, plus three youth areas. Everything revolves around Pedro Romero, the 18th-century Ronda-born bullfighter who founded one of Spain's most influential bullfighting dynasties. Ahead of the fair itself there's a run of events: the opening speech (pregón) at the Auditorio Blas Infante, the Festival de Cante Grande, the Galas Internacionales de Folklore, and the costume-and-carriage (enganches) competition. Practical tip: separate what's free from what isn't. Getting into the Real, watching the street events, the pregón, and the carriage parade costs nothing; food and drinks at the casetas do, and all three bullfighting events require paid tickets. The exact program is published by Ronda's city council (ayuntamientoronda.es) weeks in advance — don't assume it matches a previous year's.
The Goyesca: why it's one of a kind
The Corrida Goyesca was created in 1954 for the bicentenary of Pedro Romero's birth, driven by Cayetano Ordóñez; Antonio Ordóñez joined for the second edition in 1957 and turned it into a fixture of the bullfighting calendar. What sets it apart is the look: bullfighters dressed in Goya-style costume, echoing the 18th-century aesthetic Goya painted, with much of the audience — women included — also in period dress, all inside a ring built in 1785. It's held on Saturday afternoon, with a mounted bullfighting (rejones) event that same morning and a novillada the day before. Practical tip: don't confuse it with Spain's other 'goyescas' — a similar tradition exists at other bullrings, but this is Ronda's own. And expect the ticket to be the real bottleneck: in 2026 it sold out through official channels in March, in under 24 hours. Official channel: riveraordonez.com and the Plaza de Toros box office (Avenida Virgen de la Paz). Any other website is resale.
The 1785 bullring and its reopening
The Real Maestranza de Caballería agreed to build it in 1754; work began in 1779 and it opened on May 19, 1785 — tradition says with Pedro Romero and Pepe-Hillo (José Delgado) on the bill. It was designed by José Martín de Aldehuela, the same architect behind the Puente Nuevo. It's neoclassical, built in sandstone, with a double gallery of arcades on Tuscan columns and no open-air stands: the cloister-like feel recalls the circular courtyard of the Palacio de Carlos V at the Alhambra. The ring measures 66 meters across, with two five-row tiers resting on 136 pillars forming 68 arches. It closed in June 2024 over structural issues, and the restoration — three million euros, overseen by a committee chaired by Rafael Moneo — took over a year; it reopened for the 2026 fair. Practical tip: it's open to visit with a ticket (bullfighting museum and ring, run by the Real Maestranza, rmcr.org), but on fair days tourist visits are altered or suspended. Check rmcr.org before you go.
The fair without the bulls
If bullfighting isn't your thing, the fair still delivers. Getting into the Real at the Ángel Harillo fairground is free: casetas decked out in Andalusian style, shaded areas — which matter, since September in Ronda still bites at midday — and nights that run into the small hours. Outside the fairground you've got the Festival de Cante Grande, the Galas Internacionales de Folklore, and the carriage competition, with horses and traditional dress out on the streets. Practical tip on logistics: Ángel Harillo sits outside the town center, so skip the car. Ronda has a train station (Algeciras–Bobadilla line, with connections from Málaga, Granada, and Madrid) and a bus station, and the city council runs a special transport setup each fair — tourist mini-trains for €1 a ride to the fairground gate, three bus lines, and a shuttle from the Ronda Norte health center (figures from the previous edition; the 2026 details are published days ahead at ayuntamientoronda.es). Book accommodation months out, or stay in Málaga, Marbella, or Setenil and come for the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Feria de Pedro Romero held?
Do you need a ticket for the fair itself?
How do I get tickets for the Corrida Goyesca?
Can you visit the bullring during the fair?
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