Miguel Ángel Valverde, the president of the Diputación de Ciudad Real, reaffirmed the provincial institution's commitment to bullfighting during the VII Virgen del Prado Awards Gala, held in Carrión de Calatrava. The event coincided with the 16th anniversary of the cultural association, Cargando la Suerte.
Valverde highlighted the importance of bullfighting, stating that it represents "more than just culture, tradition, and roots"; it also generates economic and social activity, attracting large crowds and enabling celebrations in numerous municipalities. He noted that Ciudad Real is a province steeped in bullfighting tradition, with provincial support allowing towns that previously did not host events to participate in activities such as cattle releases, festivals, novilladas (junior bullfights), and full bullfights. Over a hundred events have benefited from this support.
Additionally, Valverde acknowledged the backing provided to bullfighting schools in Ciudad Real, Miguelturra, and Alcázar de San Juan, which help many young people realise their dreams of becoming bullfighters.
Awards and tributes
During the gala, Valverde congratulated all award recipients, particularly Samuel Navalón, who was named the top performer of the fair, Juan Contreras for best banderillero, and Diego Ventura for the most artistic performance, who was unable to attend due to an accident involving his horses. Valverde also paid tribute to Víctor Puerto, stating, "a tribute that the entire province owes him" after 31 years in the profession, adding, “for us, you have been a representative of our land, of our province.”
He extended his congratulations to those receiving special mentions, including the Club Taurino de Almodóvar and the Peña Taurina de Membrilla, and praised the efforts of the City Council of Ciudad Real, which aims to elevate the capital's fair to one of the most significant in Castilla-La Mancha and, in his view, all of Spain. This effort was also recognised with a special mention awarded to Mar Sánchez Izarra.
Valverde commended Adrián Fernández, the Deputy for Internal Organisation at the Diputación, for his understanding of the needs of the national festival. Fernández expressed gratitude for the special mention he received, thanking Manuel del Moral and Cargando la Suerte, and congratulating the other awardees, whom he described as "authentic figures". He shared the accolade with all bullfighting fans in Ciudad Real and his family, particularly his parents, who introduced him to the world of bullfighting.
Fernández also remembered Andrés Prado, who instilled in him a passion for the sport and a commitment to supporting newcomers. He advocated for local bullfighters to be featured in any provincial event and for a strong investment in bullfighting schools. He noted that the Ciudad Real Bullfighting School has enabled its students to participate in 50 events with 80 performances this year, a significant achievement in just two years.
Manuel del Moral expressed satisfaction in hosting fans and authorities at this seventh edition of the awards and thanked the team of collaborators, institutions, and businesses, especially the Diputación, which he described as the "engine for continuing to work in favour of the national festival."
Samuel Navalón received the award for Top Performer of the 2026 Fair, while rejoneador Diego Ventura was honoured for the Most Artistic Performance for his act on 21 August in Ciudad Real. Juan Contreras, part of Daniel Luque's team, won the award for Best Man of the Team, while the jury declared the award for Most Brave Bull vacant.
The most emotional moment of the night was the presentation of the Special Award to maestro Víctor Puerto, coinciding with his retirement after 31 years as a bullfighter. Special mentions were also awarded for contributions to the defence and promotion of bullfighting to Adrián Fernández, Mar Sánchez Izarra, the Club Taurino Almodóvar for its 40th anniversary, the Peña Taurina Samuel Flores de Membrilla for its 25 years, and the Hotel Restaurante Casa Pepe.
The event also saw the launch of the sixth issue of the magazine summarising the 2026 bullfighting season in the province. A broad representation of the region's political and social fabric, bullfighting professionals, businesspeople, cultural associations, fans, and media attended the gala.
