Tamil Nadu began its jallikattu season on January 3, 2026, at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukottai district. Over 450 bulls charged into the arena as nearly 200 young men competed to tame them. The excitement continued on January 15 at Avaniapuram village in Madurai district, where during the Pongal festival, 937 bulls and 568 bull-tamers participated in 12 rounds. This year, a digital scoreboard was introduced for the first time to keep the event transparent. Balamurugan from Valayankulam in Madurai was named the best bull-tamer, having tamed 22 bulls, and won a car. On January 16, jallikattu events took place at Palamedu in Madurai and Suriyur in Tiruchi. Suriyur hosted its first-ever bull-taming event in a newly built permanent arena, opened by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The event mostly remained safe, though around 60 people, including tamers and spectators, had minor injuries. The grand event is set to continue with the world-famous Alanganallur jallikattu in Madurai, inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on January 17. Enthusiasts and participants look forward to the traditional festival filled with thrilling moments and cultural pride.