Three matadors were gored by bulls at the launch of Madrid's prestigious San Isidro festival, forcing the cancellation of the event for the first time in 35 years.
David Mora suffered the most severe injuries after a 532kg bull rammed its horn into his leg and tossed him into the air at the Las Ventas bullring. He sustained a large gash in his thigh and another in his armpit, and was said to be in a serious but no longer life-threatening condition.
The second matador, Antonio Nazare, injured his knee when a bull dragged him along the sand. The final act, Jimenez Fortes, was skewered in the right leg and pelvis. Both men were treated and due to be released from hospital on Wednesday.
Bullfighting remains legal in most Spanish regions despite growing criticism. In 2010, Catalonia became the second region after the Canary Islands to ban the tradition. Opponents describe the pageants as barbaric, while fans, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, defend it as an ancient art form.
Last year, Spain's congress granted bullfighting cultural heritage status to protect it from further bans, a move condemned by international animal welfare groups.
