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
June 2026
Day 01 – Raminho – 6:30 PM
Day 01 – São João de Deus, Sta. Luzia, Angra – 6:30 PM
Day 02 – São Luís, São Bento – 6:30 PM
Day 02 – Outeiros, Agualva – 6:30 PM
Day 02 – Terra Alta, Vila de São Mateus – 6:30 PM
Day 02 – Largo da Fonte, São Sebastião – 6:30 PM
Day 03 – Rua da Igreja, Ribeirinha – 6:30 PM
Day 03 – Largo de São João, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 03 – Terreiro, Vila de São Mateus – 6:30 PM
Day 04 – Cantinho, Vila de São Mateus – 6:30 PM
Day 04 – Terreiro do Paço, Serra da Ribeirinha – 6:30 PM
Day 04 – Terreiro, Vila do Porto Judeu – 6:30 PM
Day 04 – Largo de São João, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 05 – Largo de São João, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 05 – Terreiro, Vila de São Mateus – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Canada Belém, Terra Chã (Next to the Community Center) – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Largo do Império, Porto Martins – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Praça da Vila Nova – 6:30 PM
Day 06 – Doze Ribeiras – 6:30 PM
Day 07 – Santo Amaro, Ribeirinha – 6:30 PM
Day 07 – Canada Belém, Terra Chã (Next to the Community Center) – 6:30 PM
Day 07 – Largo de São João, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 08 – Largo da Igreja, Santa Bárbara – 6:30 PM
Day 08 – Figueiras Pretas, São Pedro, Angra – 6:30 PM
Day 09 – Serra de Santiago, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM (Heifer Run)
Day 12 – Municipal Road, Vila Nova – 6:30 PM (Heifer Run)
Day 13 – Serra de Santiago, Vila das Lajes – 6:30 PM
Day 13 – Corpo Santo, Conceição – 6:30 PM
Day 14 – Praça da Vila Nova – 6:30 PM
Day 14 – Bicas de Cabo Verde, São Pedro, Angra – 6:30 PM
Day 15 – Boa Hora, Terra Chã – 6:30 PM
Day 20 – Largo de São Bento – 6:00 PM
Day 24 – Cattle Drive Event – Alto das Covas, Angra – 1:00 PM
Day 25 – Children’s Cattle Drive Event – Rua de São João, Sé, Angra – 12:00 PM
Day 26 – Largo da Igreja, Santa Bárbara – 6:00 PM
Day 27 – Largo da Igreja, Santa Bárbara – 6:00 PM
Day 27 – Porto S. Fernando, Porto Martins – 6:30 PM
Day 28 – Porto das Pipas, Angra – 6:00 PM
Day 29 – Caminho dos Galinheiros, Vila Nova – 6:30 PM
Day 30 – Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, Vila Nova – 6:30 PM
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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.
