Protest with gravestones for killed bulls in Valencia
12-03-2026On Saturday 7 March, CAS International and AnimaNaturalis protested against bullfighting in the Spanish city of Valencia. During the action, 140 people held signs depicting gravestones with the names of bulls killed in Spain over the past year. The protest also drew attention to the continued government support for the bullfighting sector. While the Valencian government spends more than €450,000 in subsidies on bullfighting, one in three Valencians is at risk of poverty.
Protest with gravestones for killed bulls in Valencia | Picture: CAS International, AnimaNaturalis
Gravestones for killed bulls
The protest was prompted by the bullfights held during the Fallas – the annual traditional festival in the city of Valencia. It took place in front of Valencia’s bullring. The signs displayed the names and birth dates of bulls killed in bullfights in 2025. Other signs carried messages such as “Bullfighting fills graveyards”.
Our protest criticises the policy of the autonomous region of Valencia. It has increased funding for bullfighting. It has also cut spending on social services and on support for victims of the October 2024 floods.
140 people held signs depicting gravestones with the names of the bulls killed in Spain over the past year | Picture: CAS International, AnimaNaturalis
€450,000
The Department of Culture of the Valencian government led by Carlos Mazón granted a direct subsidy of €300,000 in 2025 to the Fundación Toro de Lidia. This foundation focuses on the promotion and preservation of bullfighting. Together with other additional amounts for bullfights and bull-related festivities, the total funding that year exceeded €450,000.
At the same time, the same government reduced support for trade unions; for the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (the academy dedicated to preserving the Valencian language); and for various civil society organisations that assist the most vulnerable people in the Valencia region.
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Fallas
The Fallas festivities in the city of Valencia take place between 1 and 19 March. Ultimately, bullfighters will kill 60 bulls between 7 and 19 March.
In principle, the Fallas have nothing to do with animal suffering. Figures made of wood and papier-mâché play a central role in the festival. And at the end of the celebrations these figures are burned. The bullfights take place during the Fallas, but in essence they are not part of the festival itself.
Opinion of Spaniards
A study by the Fundación BBVA shows that 77% of the Spanish population considers it unacceptable that animals are used in bullfighting. This picture is confirmed by other studies. In 2024, Ipsos I&O Publiek conducted a survey commissioned by CAS International among 7,500 people about bullfighting. The results showed that the majority of people in Spain, France and Portugal oppose bullfighting because they believe the tradition causes unnecessary suffering to bulls.
Majority of people in European bullfighting countries against the harmful tradition
Petition against EU subsidies
Did you know that your tax money is being used, through European agricultural subsidies, to breed cattle for bullfights and cruel folk festivals in Spain, France, and Portugal?
It is estimated that around €200 million per year is involved. We believe this must stop. Therefore, CAS International, with support from the animal organizations AnimaNaturalis (Spain) and ANIMAL (Portugal), has launched a petition aiming to end European agricultural subsidies for bull breeders. Sign our petition here!
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