Ecuador reaffirms ban on bullfighting

The Constitutional Court of Ecuador has rejected an attempt by pro-bullfighting groups to overturn the existing ban on bullfights in which the bull is killed. In 2011, 126 cantons (a canton is an administrative unit between a municipality and a province) voted in a referendum to ban bullfights that result in the death of the animal. This ruling reaffirms the constitutionality of that existing ban in the 126 municipalities.

Ecuador reaffirms ban on bullfighting | Picture: Pixabay

In 2011, the Ecuadorian people voted by majority to prohibit bullfighting and other spectacles in which animals are killed. This referendum marked the first time the Ecuadorian population directly voted on the protection of animals in public entertainment. 54.9% of the votes supported ending bullfights that lead to the death of the animals. The capital city, Quito, is among the 126 cantons where the ban applies.

In recent years, pro-bullfighting groups have sought to reopen the debate. They argued that the ban violates the Constitution and that bullfighting should be protected as cultural heritage. They also pointed to alleged economic and labor impacts, as well as restrictions on artistic and cultural freedom of expression. In their petition, they called for the reinstatement of bullfights in which the animal is killed and for the 2011 referendum to be declared unconstitutional.

Confirmation of the ban

On August 15, 2025, however, the Constitutional Court definitively rejected these demands. It confirmed the ban on spectacles involving the killing of animals throughout Ecuador, including bullfighting and cockfighting. According to the Court, the will of the people, as expressed in the 2011 referendum, is binding and must be respected by the authorities.

This ruling establishes a final precedent: bullfights resulting in the death of the animal remain prohibited in 126 cantons.

CAS International congratulates the animal protection organizations FATA, MAN, and all other Ecuadorian organizations for their years of dedicated effort.

Over the past 12 years, the number of bullfights in Ecuador has decreased by 65%. The country has 221 cantons, of which 95 still hold bullfights in which the animal is killed. Our work in Ecuador continues until we can put an end to this cruelty everywhere in the country.

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