July 6, 2026, 1:36 p.mJuly 6, 2026, 1:36 p.m
Despite renewed protests from animal rights activists, a new edition of the controversial Pamplona bull-hunting festival has opened in Spain. The opening rocket “Chupinazo” was fired from the town hall balcony at midday in front of more than 12,000 enthusiastic people.
Celebrations in Pamplona – the controversial bull hunt has begun.Image: keystone
The highlight of the nine-day San Fermín festival is the controversial running of the bulls. The first bull hunt takes place in the northern Spanish city on Tuesday.
The so-called “Sanfermines” are dedicated to the city saint San Fermín and have been celebrated in July in the city of 215,000 in the Navarra region since the end of the 16th century. “San Fermín, San Fermín, San Fermín,” shouted the tightly packed people on the opening day. They danced, sang and waved the traditional red scarves.
In the morning until July 14th, six fighting bulls will be driven through the narrow streets of the old town into the arena in Pamplona. Hundreds of people – mostly young men – run in front of the bulls, which weigh around 600 kilograms. The bull hunt is broadcast live by several TV channels. Every year, dozens of people are injured during these tests of courage along the 875-meter-long route. There have been 16 deaths since 1924, the last in 2009.
Animal rights activists speak of “medieval torture”
In the bullring, death awaits the bulls from the morning run in the bullfights that take place in the evening. At the “Sanfermines” there are not only bull races and fights, but also numerous concerts and processions as well as other events.
Animal rights activists have been protesting against bull running for years. Among other things, you speak of “medieval torture”. Nevertheless, the festival continues to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world, mainly from Europe, Australia, Asia and the USA. The US writer Ernest Hemingway wrote about Pamplona in his first major novel, “Fiesta” (1926). (dab/sda/dpa)