Bullfighting is ancestral and the island maintains several active cattle ranches. The activity is divided into square bullfights and the typical rope bullfights, in which the bull runs through the streets of the town held by a long rope held by a group of men, known as the shepherds. The bull season runs from the 1st of May to the 15th of October.
Rope bullfighting in Terceira Azores
August 2026
Day 03 – Juncal, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Heifer Bull Run).
Day 04 – Terreiro, Terra Chã, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 04 – Rua da Guarita, Conceição, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 04 – Juncal, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 05 – Ao Arco, São Bento, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 05 – Quatro Ribeiras, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 05 – Juncal, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 06 – Rua Gervásio Lima, Praia da Vitória, at 3:00 pm (Children’s Bull Run).
Day 06 – Quatro Ribeiras, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 07 – Caminho do Cemitério, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 08 – Estrada 25 de Abril, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 08 – Biscoitinho, São Mateus Village, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 09 – Areal da Praia, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 10 – Fishing Harbour, São Mateus Village, Angra do Heroísmo, at 4:00 pm (Traditional Heifer Bull Run).
Day 10 – Lameirinho, Conceição, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 11 – Cambalim, Conceição, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 14 – Canada do Parado, Feteira, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 14 – Canada de Santo António, Posto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 15 – Serra de Santiago, Vila das Lajes, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 15 – Lameirinho, Conceição, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 pm.
Day 15 – Rua do Regelo, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 15 – Fishing Harbour, São Mateus Village, Angra do Heroísmo, at 9:00 pm (Night Bull Run).
Day 16 – Fishing Harbour, São Mateus Village, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 17 – Rua da Igreja, Agualva, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 17 – Canada das Roças, Posto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Calf Bull Run).
Day 18 – Rua do Pico, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Heifer Bull Run).
Day 18 – Cruzeiro, Agualva, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 18 – Terreiro, Posto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 18 – Estrada Marcelino Moules, Cinco Ribeiras, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 19 – Estrada Regional, Feteira, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Heifer Bull Run).
Day 19 – Rua da Igreja, Agualva, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 19 – Cinco Ribeiras, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 19 – Estrada Regional, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 20 – Rua da Igreja, Agualva, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 20 – Estrada Regional, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 20 – Estrada Regional, Feteira, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 21 – Estrada Regional, Feteira, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 22 – Rua do Regelo, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 22 – Fajã do Fischer, Feteira, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 22 – Às Pias, São Brás, Praia da Vitória, at 9:00 pm (Night Bull Run).
Day 23 – Rua do Biscoito, Fonte do Bastardo, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 23 – Canada da Ajuda, Santa Bárbara, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 25 – Ladeira Grande, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Heifer Bull Run).
Day 25 – Às Pias, São Brás, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 26 – Às Pias, São Brás, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 26 – Ladeira Grande, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 27 – Rua do Regelo, São Brás, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm (Traditional Calf Bull Run).
Day 28 – Rua Padre Alfredo Lucas, São Brás, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 28 – Ladeira Grande, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 28 – Rua do Emigrante, São Bartolomeu, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Day 28 – Largo da Igreja, Cabo da Praia, Praia da Vitória, at 9:00 pm (Night Bull Run).
Day 29 – Rua dos Moinhos, Agualva, Praia da Vitória, at 6:00 pm.
Day 29 – Outeiro Galhardo, Ladeira Grande, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 pm.
Bullfight finder
Discover the captivating bullfighting tradition of Terceira Island with Bullfight Finder, the App for bullfighting on Terceira Island. Stay connected, informed and captivated by this unique cultural experience.
Download Bullfight Finder for free now!
Rope bullfighting is considered the greatest manifestation of popular character in the Azores, being a show specific to this region, mainly from the Central Group, with particular expression on Terceira Island. Its central element is Toiro Bravo, which is idolized by our people and by all who visit us.
Rope bullfights are held on the islands of São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico and Terceira, the latter being the island with the highest number of shows per year, with more than 200 festivities.
Such is the importance of wild cattle in the popular imagination of Terceira that the victory at the Battle of Salga, on July 25, 1581, is attributed to the bulls, when they expelled the invading Castilian troops. Portuguese to resist Filipino rule. For this reason, they are also represented (bulls) in the coat of arms of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The first reference to rope bullfighting appears only in 1622, on the occasion of the celebrations, in Angra, for the canonization of São Francisco Xavier and Santo Inácio de Loyola. In these celebrations, rope bulls were “run” through the streets of the city. However, it is believed that these popular manifestations already existed much earlier.
Despite the origin of rope bullfighting being lost in the memory of the times, this spectacle of popular nature is currently duly legislated with a set of rules that guarantee its proper functioning, the health and well-being of the animal, as well as the safety of the population.
