Complete Schedule for the San Sebastián Mártir Festival 2026 in Sanse

The patron saint festivities of San Sebastián Mártir 2026 in San Sebastián de los Reyes will be held from January 15 to 23, with the bulk of the programme taking place between Friday 16 and Tuesday 20. Here is the complete programme:

Thursday, January 15: warming up

Thursday is the day when Sanse starts to change pace, but still without large crowds.

• Award ceremony for previous municipal contests (nativity scenes, photography and other competitions organised during Christmas), in cultural spaces of the municipality.
• Activities and meetings with local associations, who take the opportunity to present projects and hold the first festive events.

It’s the typical day to start seeing familiar faces around the centre, commenting “Are you going to the opening tomorrow?” and deciding, of course, that you will.

Friday, January 16: opening speech, parade and first serious night

Friday marks the official start. If there’s a day that everyone has marked, it’s this one.

• 17:30–20:30 h – Parade with a band through the route of the bull run and the old town, warming up the atmosphere in the manga and surrounding areas.
• 18:00 h – Cabestrada along the bull run route, from the bullring to the release pens.
• 18:30 h – Official opening speech of the festivities in the Plaza de la Constitución, by the Cultural Association El Encierro, followed by a fireworks display.
• 18:35 h – Musical session with DJ Danfer in the Plaza de la Constitución, to extend the evening.
• 20:30 h – VII Gala del Toro de Sanse in the multipurpose room of La Tercera, organised by the Taurine Association Defiende Tu Fiesta.

At this point, there are no half measures: parade, fireworks, opening speech and the feeling of “okay, we’re really in the festivities now”.

Saturday, January 17: first White Bull Run and strong bullfighting day

Saturday brings one of the highlights: bull run, bulls, music and activities for all ages.

• 10:00 h – Municipal prebenjamín chess championship.
• 10:30–13:30 h – Parade with a band through the bull run route and the bullring.
• 10:30 h – Placement of the image of San Sebastián Mártir at the junction of Calle Real and Postas.
• 11:00 h – First White Bull Run, with bulls from the Zalduendo ranch, along the usual route of the August bull runs.
• 11:15 h – Release of cattle in the bullring, intended for general capea.
• 12:15 h – Children’s transhumance along Calle Postas and Calle Real to the bullring, in collaboration with the Federation of Peñas.
• 13:00 h – Children’s bull run from Calle San Roque–Calle Mayor to Calle de la Victoria–Calle Francisca “la de Bártulo”.
• 13:00 h – Concert by Los Inspectores in the Plaza de la Constitución.
• 13:30 h – Parade with a band from Peña El Remedio through the streets of the old town.
• 13:30 h – Children’s activity “Bulls for Kids”, with crafts and games about bulls in the park on Calle Pedro Rodríguez “el Viejo”.
• 16:30 h – Goyesco Recortadores Contest, II Memorial Esteban Quijada “El Ferre”, in the bullring.
• 19:00 h – Fire Bull in Calle San Roque, organised by Peña El Remedio.
• 19:30 h – Performance by Orquesta Krypton in the Plaza de la Constitución.

It’s the classic day when you say “I’m just going to the bull run and I’ll be home by one” and you reappear many hours later, smelling of fire bull smoke and the orchestra still playing in your head.

Sunday, January 18: second White Bull Run and Manu Tenorio

Sunday is designed so you won’t be bored for a minute: bulls in the morning, music at noon and more partying in the afternoon.

• 10:30–13:30 h – Parade with a band through the bull run route and the bullring.
• 10:30 h – Placement of the image of San Sebastián Mártir at Calle Real with Postas.
• 11:00 h – Second White Bull Run, with bulls from the El Cotillo ranch.
• 11:15 h – Release of cattle in the bullring for general capea.
• 12:15 h – Children’s transhumance along Calle Postas and Calle Real to the bullring.
• 13:00 h – Children’s bull run along the same route as the previous day (San Roque–Mayor to Victoria–Francisca “la de Bártulo”).
• 13:00 h – Concert by Manu Tenorio in the Plaza de la Constitución.
• 16:30 h – Children’s recortadores contest in the bullring and then release of cattle for general capea.
• 19:00 h – Fire Bull in Calle San Roque.
• 19:00 h – Music of pop rock covers in the Plaza de la Constitución.

A very “family plan” Sunday that inevitably ends with you singing choruses you know better than you’d like to admit.

Monday, January 19: chocolate, bullfighting talk and more music

Monday slows down the pace of bull runs a bit, but increases the conversation, sugar and orchestra.

• 18:30 h – Distribution of free chocolate with churros, perfect for warming up in January.
• 19:00 h – Bullfighting talk in the Plenary Hall, with protagonists and fans discussing bull runs, tradition and festivities.
• 19:30 h – Performance by Orquesta Vulkano in the Plaza de la Constitución.
• 21:00 h – Fireworks display in the Plaza de la Constitución.

That day when you say “today I’ll behave”, but between the chocolate, the talk and the orchestra, you end up greeting half the municipality.

Tuesday, January 20: Patron's Day

The 20th is the big day, that of San Sebastián Mártir, when religious character, tradition and, of course, festivities mix.

• 10:30 h – Parade by the Municipal Music Band through Milagro, Victoria, Plaza de la Fuente, Mayor, Real, Vicenta Montes and Plaza de la Constitución.
• 11:00 h – Release of cattle in the bullring for general capea.
• 12:00 h – Major Mass in honour of San Sebastián Mártir at the parish of the same name, in the Plaza de la Iglesia.
• 12:15 h – Children’s transhumance along Calle Postas and Calle Real to the bullring.
• 13:00 h – Children’s bull run along Calle Estafeta, organised by the Federation of Peñas.
• 13:15 h – Solemn procession with the image of San Sebastián Mártir, departing from the Plaza de la Iglesia and passing through San Roque, Real, Vicenta Montes, Plaza de la Constitución, Calle del Viento and returning to the Church.
• 13:30–14:00 h – Mascletá in the Plaza de la Iglesia by Pirosanse and the Taurine Peña San Sebastián, followed by a mascletá in the Plaza de la Constitución.
• 14:00 h – Traditional dance in the Plaza de la Constitución, accompanied by the Music Band of San Sebastián de los Reyes.
• 19:30 h – Award ceremony for the nativity scene contest at the Centro M. Camacho.

A day for a suit, a good coat and devotion, but also for fireworks, a band and that dance in the square that you “only go to watch” but end up joining in.

A quick look at the highlights

In case you want to have it in “mental cheat sheet” mode, here are some of the star moments of this year’s festivities:

• White Bull Runs:
  • Saturday 17 and Sunday 18, at 11:00 h, with bulls from Zalduendo and El Cotillo, followed by the release of cattle in the bullring.
• Concerts in the Plaza de la Constitución:
  • Saturday 17: Los Inspectores (noon) and Orquesta Krypton (evening).
  • Sunday 18: Manu Tenorio (13:00 h) and pop rock covers (evening).
  • Monday 19: Orquesta Vulkano (19:30 h).
• Religious events of Patron's Day (January 20):
  • Major Mass (12:00 h).
  • Procession with the image of the saint (13:15 h).
  • Fireworks and traditional dance in the Plaza de la Constitución.

With this, you now have the complete overview of the San Sebastián Mártir Festival 2026 in Sanse. Now all that’s left is the hard part: deciding what to say no to, because we already know it’s almost everything.