Mexico City's legislature has approved a ban on traditional bullfighting, replacing it with a "cruelty-free" alternative that prohibits injuries to bulls. The measure passed with overwhelming support on March 18—61 votes in favour and just one against—symbolising a revolutionary break with tradition in a city that houses the world's largest bullring.

The new regulations, championed by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, forbid the use of sharp implements like lances, banderillas and swords that traditionally wound and kill bulls during corridas. Bullfighters will now be limited to using only capes and muletas (the smaller red cape), fundamentally altering a controversial centuries-old tradition.

"This is not seeking to eliminate bullfighting but rather its evolution," explained Víctor Hugo Romo, a legislator from the ruling Morena party, as quoted by El Economista. The reform aims to "harmonise cultural tradition with the constitutional obligation to recognise and protect animals."

Under the new framework, bulls must be returned to their breeders after performances, which are limited to 15 minutes per animal with a maximum of six bulls per event. The legislation also mandates protection for bulls' horns to prevent injuries to other animals or people.

According to legislators, this reform creates a new legal concept of "violence-free bullfighting events" that seeks to preserve the economic activities and jobs surrounding the tradition while eliminating its most controversial aspects. Violators who cause the death of a bull during performances could incur fines of up to 339,000 pesos (approximately $17,000), according to Infobae.

Bullfighting has deep roots in Mexico, with the first recorded event dating back to 1526 during the Spanish colonial period. The iconic Plaza México in Mexico City, inaugurated in 1946, can accommodate 42,000 spectators. Despite this heritage, five of Mexico's 31 states have already prohibited bullfighting since 2013, reflecting growing opposition to the practice.

The reform has sparked significant controversy nationwide. Supporters of traditional bullfighting gathered outside the legislature to protest, with some reportedly clashing with police. Arturo Saldívar, a professional bullfighter interviewed by El País, expressed concern that the ban threatens both his livelihood and the survival of fighting bulls as a breed. "The ones who will really cause the extinction of the breed are them," he argued, claiming that without bullfighting, there would be no economic incentive to raise these animals to maturity.

In contrast, animal rights advocates have welcomed the legislation. Antón Aguilar, executive director of Humane World for Animals Mexico, told AFP it represents "an important step toward eradicating the torment and killing of animals for entertainment," though he noted that "a bull event without violence does not mean one without suffering."

The ban places Mexico City among a growing list of jurisdictions that have restricted or eliminated traditional bullfighting. Colombia recently approved a nationwide ban set to take effect in 2027, while the practice continues in Spain, France, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador.

The new law is set to come into effect after a 210-day period, during which the city government will draft detailed guidelines for implementing violence-free bullfighting events. This transition period offers a window for bullfighting professionals to adapt to the new reality of what Mayor Brugada described as "a city that respects animal rights and will not tolerate them being subject to mistreatment or violence."