The San Juan Fair in Badajoz, Spain, has generated controversy with the creation of a children’s box intended for children between five and twelve years old. The proposal, driven by the company Fusión Internacional por la Tauromaquia, seeks to bring bullfighting closer to minors through educational and recreational activities during bullfights.
Access will be free, and children can attend without needing to be accompanied by their parents, as they will be under the supervision of qualified monitors. The space will be located in the shaded stands and will offer adapted explanations about the bullfight, as well as games and activities between each bull’s appearance.
Organizers’ Arguments
The organizing company argues that the children’s box aims to:
- Transmit the cultural tradition of bullfighting to new generations.
- Offer a safe and educational environment, with specialized staff.
- Facilitate family attendance, allowing them to enjoy the festivities while the minors are cared for.
Criticism from Animal and Child Welfare Organizations
The initiative has been questioned by the Franz Weber Foundation, which considers the promotion of bullfighting incompatible with the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Their objections include:
- The attendance of minors from the age of five without the company of their parents.
- The normalization of violence towards animals as part of a cultural spectacle.
- The institutional support from the City Council of Badajoz, the Provincial Council, and the Government of Extremadura, whose logos appear in the promotion.
International Recommendations
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reiterated its observations to Spain in February 2026, expressly mentioning bullfighting in the section on child protection against violence. Among its recommendations:
- Establish a minimum age of 18 years to participate in bullfighting events and schools.
- Develop awareness campaigns about the effects of violence on children and adolescents.
- Expand the responsibility of autonomous communities in implementing protection measures.
These observations reinforce the requests already made in 2018 and question the relevance of initiatives like the children’s box.
Cultural and Social Debate
The case reflects the tension between those who defend bullfighting as part of Spanish cultural heritage and those who consider it a practice incompatible with children’s rights and animal welfare. The controversy intensifies because the San Juan Fair is one of the most significant bullfighting events in Extremadura and has institutional support.
The children’s box at the San Juan Fair in Badajoz has become a symbol of the debate on bullfighting and childhood in Spain.
While the organizers present it as an educational and cultural opportunity, animal welfare and child protection organizations see it as a violation of international principles.
The outcome of this controversy will depend on the ability of institutions to balance tradition, children’s rights, and animal welfare.
