¡Hijo! What a season it has been so far. As someone who has spent a lifetime in the plazas, from the dust of the ruedo to the press boxes, I can tell you that the 2025 bullfighting season has been one of great emotion, a few triumphs, and the ever-present shadow of a world that is changing. The spectacle has been magnificent, but the fight for its survival is as fierce as ever.
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From my perch in Madrid, I can tell you that the Feria de San Isidro was the heart of the season. It was a fair of great expectations, and while some afternoons fell a bit flat due to difficult livestock, the moments of glory shone all the brighter. Young blood like Tomás Rufo has been a revelation, proving that the future of the art is in good hands. He solidified his place alongside the great figures of the moment. We also saw Andrés Roca Rey, the Peruvian phenomenon, return to Las Ventas with his usual courage and command, though not without controversy, as is his way. Morante de la Puebla gave us glimpses of his genius, proving that he is still the master of subtle, unrepeatable art, and Uceda Leal gave us a taste of his hard-won Madrid style. The *rejoneadores* also had their moment, with figures like Diego Ventura putting on a show of horsemanship that is simply beyond compare.
Beyond the capital, the season has been just as lively. The Feria de Abril in Seville was, as always, a festival of classicism and elegance, where the art of the *capote* and *muleta* reigns supreme. The San Fermín festival in Pamplona, a spectacle of both the running of the bulls and the bullfights themselves, drew the world's eye, as it always does. Meanwhile, in Málaga, the prestigious Picassian bullfight brought together Roca Rey, Fortes, and Juan Ortega in a fusion of taurine art and the genius of the great painter. The up-and-coming talents are not just in Madrid; keep an eye on young men like Marco Pérez, who is making the leap from *novillero* to *matador* with a tremendous sense of responsibility and bravery.
Now, as you know, every *corrida* has two sides. While the art and courage in the ring have been breathtaking, there is no denying the pressure from the outside. The reports about the bans in Colombia and Mexico City, and the constant push for more regulations in Spain, are a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. There are those who see this tradition as nothing more than a barbaric act. We who love it, who see the art, the bravery, and the life it brings to so many towns and cities, must also be prepared to make our case. It is a debate as old as the sun and the bull, and it will continue to rage. But for now, as the season draws to a close, let's toast to the great afternoons we have had and the ones yet to come. The plaza is still our home, and the bulls are still our passion.
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