The island’s annual tourada à corda season registered 13 more events than in 2025, reaching a level previously recorded in 2007 and 2010 and reaffirming the enduring importance of one of Terceira’s most distinctive cultural traditions.
The 2026 bullfighting season on Terceira Island recorded 257 events, matching the totals registered in 2007 and 2010 and ranking among the busiest seasons documented in the island’s history.
According to a statistical report prepared by Daniel Nunes, Rogério Costa, and Fábio Meneses, the number of events increased by 13 compared with 2025, reflecting the continued prominence of touradas à corda, the traditional Azorean bullfighting events held in streets and public spaces throughout Terceira.
Historical data previously compiled by José Henrique Pimpão indicate that only three seasons recorded higher totals: 2008, with 268 events; 2006, with 262; and 2005, with 261.
The 2026 season extended from May through October, with activity reaching its peak during the summer months. May registered 23 events, followed by 41 in June, 54 in July, 60 in August, 58 in September, and 21 in October.
August was the busiest month, closely followed by September, illustrating the concentration of traditional festivities during the summer and early autumn.
Geographically, the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo accounted for the largest share of the season, hosting 156 events, while Praia da Vitória registered 101.
Within Praia da Vitória, the parish of Santa Cruz led with 30 events, followed by Lajes with 14. In Angra do Heroísmo, Ribeirinha recorded the highest number, with 18, followed by São Mateus with 15.
Of the 257 events, 215 were classified as touradas à corda, in which bulls are controlled by ropes held by teams of handlers as they move through designated public areas.
Another 39 events consisted of vacadas and bezerradas, involving cattle or younger animals. The season also included two cattle events intended for children and one additional espera de gado, or cattle-running event.
The report also distinguishes between traditional and nontraditional bullfighting events.
In Angra do Heroísmo, the distribution was evenly divided, with 78 traditional and 78 nontraditional events. Praia da Vitória recorded 56 traditional and 45 nontraditional events.
Across the two municipalities, the totals reached 134 traditional events and 123 nontraditional events, demonstrating the coexistence of established practices and alternative formats within Terceira’s bullfighting calendar.
Another important component of the season involved events featuring bulls from multiple breeding establishments, known in Portuguese as ganadarias.
Thirty events included bulls from four different breeders. Of these, 12 were organized as competitions between breeding establishments, while 18 took place without a competitive format.
Among the 12 competitions, seven involved previously run bulls, while five featured bulls classified as puros, or animals that had not previously participated in these events.
In the annual ranking of breeding establishments, Herdeiros de ER secured first place for the third consecutive year, with 43 points.
Humberto Filipe finished second with 37.25 points, while Casa Agrícola José Albino Fernandes placed third with 34.25 points.
Throughout the season, 334 bulls from 16 different breeding establishments participated in events across Terceira.
Of these animals, 94 were classified as puros, while 240 had already participated in the 2025 season.
The figures provide a detailed picture of the scale and organization of a tradition that remains closely associated with Terceira’s community celebrations, particularly during the warmer months.
Unlike conventional arena bullfighting, touradas à corda take place in public streets and designated community spaces. They are a distinctive expression of Terceira’s popular culture, with longstanding connections to local festivities and parish life.
The annual statistical report, compiled by Nunes, Costa, and Meneses, has become an important reference for enthusiasts seeking to follow developments in the island’s bullfighting calendar.
Their continuing work in collecting, organizing, and publishing the season’s figures provides a historical record that allows comparisons across years, municipalities, parishes, and breeding establishments.
The 2026 results place the season among the most active on record, underscoring the continued scale of Terceira’s traditional bullfighting activities and their place in the island’s cultural calendar.
Source: Daniel Nunes, Fábio Meneses, and Rogério Costa. Statistical review of the 2026 bullfighting season on Terceira Island. Adapted into English for Novidades. Originaly published in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director. The photo os from JEdgardo Vieira.