Traditional festivals involving bulls — including running events and bullfighting — are celebrated cultural traditions in Spain, Portugal, and parts of Latin America, but generate serious animal welfare concerns and declining public support.
Traditional bull sports present a genuine tension between cultural heritage and animal welfare. The suffering inflicted is well-documented and severe. Welfare advocates argue that cultural tradition does not justify practices that cause clear pain and distress, while proponents argue for cultural self-determination. The trend in public opinion in affected countries has shifted substantially toward welfare concern over the past two decades.