PAMPLONA, Spain. Tens of thousands of revelers packed the streets of Pamplona for the annual San Fermín festival, where adrenaline-filled bull runs continue to draw locals and tourists alike to northern Spain’s most iconic and controversial celebration.
The highlight of the nine-day festival, famously immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, is the encierro, the early morning running of the bulls. Each day at 8 a.m., participants sprint ahead of six powerful bulls along a narrow, 875-meter cobblestone route leading to Pamplona’s historic bullring.
Despite the festive spirit, the event remains dangerous. This year saw several dramatic moments and close calls, as runners stumbled, slipped, and in some cases, were trampled or tossed by bulls. While gorings did occur, most injuries came from falls, pileups, or being crushed against barriers. Paramedics were stationed throughout the route, providing immediate treatment and transferring the more seriously injured to local hospitals.
Most runners are men, although a small number of women also brave the event each year. Participation is restricted to adults over the age of 18 and typically excludes those who appear intoxicated, though enforcement varies.
According to Navarra’s regional government, at least 20 people were hospitalized throughout this year’s bull runs, with injuries ranging from minor contusions to fractured bones and puncture wounds. One runner, a 34-year-old American tourist, sustained a serious thigh injury after being gored on Day 5 of the festival.
Animal rights groups have long condemned the San Fermín festival, particularly the bullfights that follow each run, in which the same bulls are typically killed in the ring. Despite protests, the event continues to draw huge crowds and media attention from around the world.
Outside the bull runs, San Fermín is filled with live music, traditional dancing, fireworks, and religious processions honoring the festival’s namesake, Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre.
The festival dates back several centuries, blending religious tradition, Spanish identity, and daredevil spectacle. For many locals, it’s a rite of passage and a vital part of their cultural heritage, while for others, it remains one of the world’s most controversial public events.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
