Overview
- Organizers launched the multi-day San Fermín festival with the traditional Chupinazo and immediate demonstrations by groups such as PETA and AnimaNaturalis condemning the events as cruel.
- Thousands take part in the daily morning encierros, running alongside roughly 600‑kilogram fighting bulls through narrow streets that lead to evening corridas where the bulls are killed under a set choreography.
- The first run produced several injuries but no recent fatalities, with reporters saying five people suffered mainly bruises and three were taken to hospital after the opening run.
- Pamplona officials stress the festival’s economic role, citing last year’s estimated total impact of about €260 million and the draw of more than 400,000 visitors from abroad.
- Spanish TV channels broadcast the morning runs live, amplifying both the festival’s popularity and the animal-welfare protests, and no regulatory changes to the events were reported in current coverage.