Number of bullfighting contests in Spain 2007-2023

In 2023, 1,474 bullfighting contests took place in Spain, which represents a slight decline versus the previous year. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of events in the Iberian country was reduced to three-digit figures in 2020 and 2021. Nonetheless, the occurrence of such events had declined steadily from year to year for more than one decade. 

Bullfighting in Spain

Bullfights or “corridas” are one of the various types of events in the Spanish bullfighting tradition. Despite the overall decline registered over the past decade, bullfights on the Spanish bullrings bounced back up again in 2022 at more than 400. This is a staggering development considering the interest in this historical contest has reportedly dropped among the Spanish population, with some regions even banning these events altogether. Even so, there were still over 70 bullfighting schools spread across Spain in 2022, most of them located in the southern region of Andalusia.

Pamplona‘s Running of the Bulls

Not every event that uses cattle as a central festive component involves bullfighting. The northern city of Pamplona, in the region of Navarre, hosts one of the most well-known traditional celebrations in the world: The Running of the Bulls during the Saint Fermin Festival. In this ancient city’s narrow streets, many have been gored by bulls during these events. As of 2022, the bulls from the Jandilla Ranch still hold the record as the most dangerous bulls during these festivities.