Ricardo Ortiz, 51, a retired matador from Málaga, died on April 3 after being severely gored while handling bulls in the holding pens at La Malagueta. Ortiz, who had recently retired and was working with organisers Lances de Futuro, was preparing animals for the Picasso-themed Corrida Picassiana. The event proceeded on April 4 with a tribute and moment of silence. The incident highlights ongoing controversy around bullfighting and recent declines in festival numbers in Spain.
Retired Matador Ricardo Ortiz, 51, Fatally Gored While Preparing Bulls at La Malagueta
A bullfighter is seen at the Corrida Picassiana in Málaga, Spain, on April 4, 2026.Credit: Alex Zea/Europa Press via Getty
Ricardo Ortiz, a 51-year-old retired matador, died on April 3 after being severely gored by a bull while handling animals in the holding pens at La Malagueta, the historic bullring in Málaga, Spain. Ortiz had been working with event organiser Lances de Futuro to prepare for the Corrida Picassiana when the accident occurred.
In a statement, Lances de Futuro said that "one of the bulls gave [Ortiz] a severe goring that caused his death." The company offered its condolences to Ortiz's family, friends and colleagues, describing him as a "much-loved and respected person in the bullfighting world."
Tribute and Event Proceeded
The Picasso-themed Corrida Picassiana, which pairs three bullfighters against six bulls, went ahead at La Malagueta on April 4. Organisers opened the event with a moment of silence and a tribute to Ortiz before the performances began.
A bullfighter is seen at the Corrida Picassiana in Málaga, Spain, on April 4, 2026.Credit: Alex Zea/Europa Press via Getty
Ortiz's Background
Born in Málaga in 1974, Ortiz came from a family of bullfighters and launched his professional career in the early 1990s. He had recently retired from the ring and was employed in an organisational role with Lances de Futuro, helping to stage bullfighting events.
Context and Controversy
Bullfighting and related traditions such as bullrunning remain controversial. Animal welfare groups have long criticised the practice; Humane World for Animals estimates that roughly 180,000 bulls are killed annually in bullfights. The tradition is banned in several countries, including the U.K., Canada and Italy, while other nations—such as Mexico and parts of the United States—have enacted laws or measures that restrict or change how events operate.
Data compiled by Reuters indicates the number of bullfighting festivals in Spain declined by about one-third between 2010 and 2023, reflecting changing public attitudes and legal pressures. Deaths and serious injuries linked to bull-related events are relatively uncommon but remain notable; recent incidents have included a fatality at the Carnaval del Toro earlier this year and previous cases in 2015 and 2016 involving severe gore injuries and a matador's death.
Note: This account is based on reporting from international and Spanish outlets and statements from event organisers. Details may be updated as authorities release further information.
Help us improve.
