The protest will take place in Plaza del Pilar, the heart of Zaragoza, on a day when a bullfight is also scheduled at La Misericordia bullring. The bullfighting fair runs from October 10 to 18 and features seven major events. The rally aims to highlight the organizers' opposition to bullfighting and open debate about its place in popular festivities.
A PROTEST FOR FESTIVITIES FREE FROM ANIMAL ABUSE
AnimaNaturalis argues that the Pilar celebrations can preserve their festive character without including bullfighting events. "Zaragoza celebrates El Pilar with pride and a desire to share the festivities, but a celebration that belongs to everyone cannot be built on the suffering of animals," says José Pomar, AnimaNaturalis coordinator in Zaragoza.
One of the protest's main focuses is public funding for bullfighting. In this regard, the organizations recall that Zaragoza City Council increased its contribution to the Mar de Nubes bullfighting school to 50,000 euros in December 2025, while also providing it with a municipal premises. The organizers believe these resources should instead be allocated to other services and cultural activities.
THE DEBATE OVER BULLFIGHTING RETURNS TO THE STREETS DURING THE PILAR FESTIVITIES
The rally also seeks to reopen the debate over the legal protection of bullfighting events. The 'No Es Mi Cultura' citizen initiative collected more than 700,000 signatures calling for the repeal of Law 18/2013, which recognizes bullfighting as part of Spain's cultural heritage. Although Congress rejected its processing in October 2025, its promoters subsequently introduced a new bill.
"We are asking institutions to stop allocating public money to bullfighting and lawmakers to return the freedom to decide to town halls," Pomar says. With this mobilization, AnimaNaturalis and CAS International will once again take their demands to the streets of Zaragoza, coinciding with one of the most significant weekends of the Pilar Festivities.
