New Orleans Running of the Bulls returns
- NOLA Bulls said New Orleans’ Running of the Bulls will return July 10-12, 2026, for its 20th edition, with the main run set for July 11. - Organizers say the event has grown from 200 participants in 2007 to more than 14,000 runners and 400 derby athletes over time. - The main run is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. Saturday at Gallier Hall, pending final route approval from NOPD.
New Orleans’ annual Running of the Bulls is back this weekend for its 20th edition, with organizers scheduling the three-day San Fermin in Nueva Orleans celebration for July 10-12, 2026. The main event is set for 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, at Gallier Hall, where runners in white and red will again be chased through downtown by roller derby skaters carrying bats instead of real bulls. NOLA Bulls, the group behind the event, says Gallier Hall will host the Saturday and Sunday programs this year. New Orleans & Company lists the event as free to watch, while participation tickets vary. ### How does the New Orleans version work? San Fermin in Nueva Orleans is modeled on the festival in Pamplona, Spain, but swaps livestock for skaters from Big Easy Roller Derby and other leagues. New Orleans & Company says the “bulls” pursue correros, or runners, on roller skates with foam-filled plastic bats. The event’s dress code follows the Pamplona tradition: white clothing with red accents such as a sash or neckerchief. (nolabulls.com) The NOLA Bulls website describes the event as “a safer alternative” to Pamplona’s encierro. Organizers say the 2026 weekend will include multiple events beyond the run itself, with Gallier Hall serving as the main hub for Saturday and Sunday activities. ### When did this become a major New Orleans event? New Orleans & Company says the first local Running of the Bulls was held in 2007 with 200 participants. (neworleans.com) The tourism group says the event has since drawn more than 14,000 runners and 400 derby athletes from around the country. The Times-Picayune reported this week that organizers said peak skater participation runs at about 200 and that many participants come from outside the city. (nolabulls.com) Where Y’at, citing organizers, said this year’s edition is the 20th annual celebration. Its preview said the run will again start from Gallier Hall and feature “hundreds” of Big Easy Roller Derby skaters. ### What else is on the schedule besides the run? Friday, July 10, opens with El Txupinazo, a pre-party at the Inn at the Old Jail at 2552 St. (neworleans.com) Philip St., according to the official event page. NOLA Bulls says attendees can pick up wristbands, bandanas and merchandise there, and that food and drink proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Beth’s Friends Forever, a nonprofit that helps women in the New Orleans area who are battling cancer. (whereyat.com) Saturday’s lineup also includes La Fiesta de Pantalones after the run, and Sunday, July 12, includes El Pobre de Mí, described by organizers as a brunch event at Gallier Hall’s Ty Tracy Theatre. The official site says the Sunday event has limited space and a cash bar. ### What should runners and spectators know before they go? Gallier Hall, at 545 St. (nolabulls.com) Charles Ave., is listed as the venue for the 2026 event weekend. The official schedule says the proposed route is still awaiting final approval from the New Orleans Police Department. NOLA Bulls says VIP and general admission access this year is open to all ages inside Gallier Hall, while New Orleans & Company says the event is free to watch from outside. Saturday’s run is scheduled for July 11 at 6:30 a.m., with registration and ticketing available through the event’s official website. Organizers say the weekend begins Friday night at the Inn at the Old Jail and concludes Sunday at Gallier Hall. (nolabulls.com 1) (nolabulls.com 2)
