In Gijón begins today Feria de Begoña. The series of bullfights at the Plaza de Toros El Bibio runs from 13 to 17 August 2026. Protests have also been announced: Asturies Antitaurina is calling for rallies over the weekend and has registered a demonstration against the events for Sunday 16 August. These dates are consistently reported by Europa Press and the local news desk at elDiario.es reported.
At the heart of the dispute is the use of municipal infrastructure to advertise the Feria. According to elDiario.es, Asturies Antitaurina and the trade union CSI at the municipal transport operator EMTUSA, object to posters and campaign images being displayed on buses and at bus shelters. Opponents of bullfighting say this amounts to the improper promotion in public spaces of a spectacle they consider harmful to animal welfare; supporters point to it as a legitimate part of the local festival calendar.
The debate thus raises a fundamental question: to what extent may municipal institutions and advertising spaces promote controversial cultural and leisure activities? Responsibility for the arrangements and allocation lies with the Ayuntamiento de Gijón, while EMTUSA handles transport advertising operationally. Temporary restrictions in the immediate vicinity of the arena and along the demonstration route can be expected over the coming days, depending on how the rallies proceed. Details of any official conditions imposed on the protests have not yet been published.
According to elDiario.es, the PP de Gijón: A bullfighting poster with which the party promoted two years of municipal government drew sharp criticism from opponents of bullfighting and fuelled the dispute over public communications.
The confirmed details at present are the dates of the Feria de Begoña (13–17 August 2026), its opening at the Plaza de Toros El Bibio, and the announced protests over the weekend, including the demonstration on 16 August. The reasons given by the Feria organisers and protest groups should be treated as attributed claims. No consistent official figures are available for attendance, advertising volume or the economic impact of the festivities. Transparent documentation from the Ayuntamiento de Gijón and EMTUSA would be essential for forthcoming decisions on advertising policies and the use of municipal spaces.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).