Aragón will award the Nicanor Villalta Awards to Morenito de Aranda, Aarón Palacio, Cristiano Torres and Iker Fernández, ‘El Mene’, while also posthumously honoring Víctor Barrio with the Honor Award. The distinctions recognize outstanding performances in Teruel, Huesca and Zaragoza and underscore the generational renewal of bullfighting in Aragón.
Morenito de Aranda, Aarón Palacio and Cristiano Torres honored for their performances in Aragón
Morenito de Aranda will receive the award for his performance with the fifth bull from Los Maños at the Teruel Ángel Bullfighting Fair, held on July 5. The performance took place during an event paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of Víctor Barrio’s death, and the jury praised its artistic and technical quality, poise, depth, command on both sides and connection with the audience.
Aarón Palacio will be honored for his performance with the third bull from El Pilar on August 11, during the Huesca Albahaca Bullfighting Fair. The jury highlighted his composure, poise, technical ability, variety and commitment, as well as the quality of his passes on both sides and his effectiveness in the final sword thrust.
The award for Cristiano Torres, granted unanimously, recognizes his performance with the third bull from La Ventana del Puerto on October 11 at Zaragoza’s La Misericordia bullring, during the Pilar Bullfighting Fair. His performance included a sequence of gaonera passes and an opening on his knees; the jury emphasized his composure, command and poise against an erratic charge, as well as the moments of greatest intensity and depth achieved on the bull’s right side.
Víctor Barrio to receive the posthumous Nicanor Villalta Honor Award
The Nicanor Villalta Honor Award will be presented posthumously to bullfighter Víctor Barrio. His family will accept the distinction, granted in recognition of his career, his personal qualities and his ties to bullfighting.
Ten years after his death while bullfighting at the Teruel bullring, the jury cited his courage in the ring, dedication to his profession and respect for the bull as part of his legacy. The recognition also highlights the mark he left on the community, both as a bullfighter and personally.
El Mene receives special award after taking the alternativa in Zaragoza
The special award will go to Iker Fernández, ‘El Mene’, regarded as one of the leading figures of the new generation of Aragonese bullfighters. The decision was unanimous.
El Mene took the alternativa on October 17, 2026 at Zaragoza’s La Misericordia bullring, with Morante de la Puebla as his sponsor and Diego Urdiales as witness. The jury considers that this step concludes his career as a novice bullfighter, strengthens the presence of Aragonese bullfighters in the professional ranks and contributes to the promotion of bullfighting in Aragón.
The Government of Aragón has promoted the Nicanor Villalta Awards since 2024 to recognize the season’s best performance at bullrings in Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel, as well as leading figures in the bullfighting sector.
