However, the festival runners aren't the only ones doing the running. While you enjoy the Sanfermines from home, your electricity meter keeps running too.

The scale of the event at home: how many Spaniards follow San Fermín from home

The passion for the Sanfermines goes far beyond Pamplona. Viewing figures from 2025 confirm that the festival is experienced, above all, from the living room. The bull runs reached an average of almost 1.4 million viewers (a 63.9% audience share), making them the most watched since 2022.

In total, almost 3.7 million people tuned into the runs on Televisión Española at some point, while the chupinazo on 6 July gathered an average of 588,000 viewers.

These figures mean millions of televisions running simultaneously, often accompanied by air conditioning systems to combat the July heat. With this data in hand, we can begin to calculate how much it costs to watch San Fermín from home.

How much electricity does a typical home consume in July?

In an average Spanish home, electricity accounts for 35.1% of residential energy consumption. Within this expenditure, household appliances are the main drivers, making up 55.2% of all electricity consumed. With the July heat, it is no surprise that electricity bills can skyrocket in many households.

The breakdown of costs typically follows these patterns:

• Fridge: responsible for 30.6% of the bill, as it works non-stop, 24 hours a day.
• Television: accounts for 12.2% of appliance expenditure, a figure that can rise if viewing hours are extended during the festivities.
• Standby: the 'vampire' power of devices that are switched off but left plugged in accounts for 6.6% – something we often forget.

The extra consumption generated by watching the Sanfermines from home: our estimate

To calculate the electricity consumption of watching all the San Fermín bull runs on television over the nine days of festivities, we must first estimate how long the television will be on.

Taking the 2025 TV schedule as a reference, the traditional 'Especial Chupinazo' is broadcast on 6 July from 11:00 am. From 7 to 14 July, coverage is provided by the 'Vive San Fermín' programme, which broadcasts between 7:15 am and 8:30 am to show the bull runs. This equates to roughly 75 minutes per day.

In total, following all the main broadcasts means keeping the television on for around 675 minutes, or 11.25 hours. This figure could be higher for those who also follow the live updates on the 24 Horas news channel.

As a benchmark, a 55-inch LED television has an approximate power rating of 100 W (0.1 kW). If it stays on for those 11.25 hours, the total consumption will be:

0.1 kW × 11.25 h = 1.125 kWh

Taking into account the current price of the Luz Fija 24h Online Tariff (€0.128235/kWh in June 2026), the cost of watching all the bull runs on television would be:

1.125 kWh × €0.128235/kWh = €0.14

In other words, the television's consumption will barely amount to 14 cents over the entire festival. However, the energy cost of a get-together to watch the bull runs does not depend solely on the television. The fridge is typically opened more frequently, and using the air conditioning, especially in the middle of July, can significantly increase electricity consumption.

Air conditioning and the fridge: the biggest energy consumers when celebrating at home

The consumption of your air conditioning while watching the bull runs on television can become the real star of your bill. A 1,500 W air conditioning unit turned on during the 11.25 hours of bull run broadcasts would consume approximately 16.9 kWh, resulting in a cost of nearly €2.16 based on the same electricity rate. Therefore, cooling the living room to watch the bull runs or the chupinazo consumes significantly more.

To this, we must add the fridge. For an appliance with a consumption of 247 kWh/year, we can estimate its running cost for the entire month of July to be around €3, based on the price of €0.128235/kWh. If we prepare snacks for a get-together with friends, constantly opening and closing the fridge or putting hot food inside forces the motor to work overtime to recover the ideal temperature, which can push consumption up slightly further.

7 July and the price of electricity: do the Sanfermines move the needle?

The price of electricity in July is influenced by electricity demand, as well as time bands and daylight hours.

On 6 July, the chupinazo takes place at 12:00 pm, falling squarely within the peak time band, the period of the day when electricity reaches its highest price. In contrast, the daily bull runs occur during the transition to shoulder hours, which corresponds to a mid-range cost starting from 8:00 am. Finally, the weekend bull runs are the cheapest from an energy perspective, as off-peak hours – the lowest price band – apply continuously throughout Saturdays and Sundays.

Although a single household does not change the market, the fact that millions of people synchronise their consumption (TV + air conditioning) during peak hours, such as for the chupinazo, contributes to keeping demand high during the most expensive energy periods.

Watching San Fermín more cheaply: what can you do?

To save electricity while enjoying San Fermín, you don't need to turn off the TV; you just need to be smarter about how you use your appliances:

• The 'one-degree rule' for air conditioning: keep your A/C at 26 ºC. For every degree you lower it, consumption increases by 8%.
• Fan and A/C combo: use a fan to circulate the cold air. This allows you to raise the thermostat by 2 or 3 degrees while maintaining the same thermal comfort.
• Adjust the TV brightness: reducing the brightness to 50-60% or using Cinema/ECO mode saves energy compared to Sports mode, which maximises contrast.
• Avoid standby mode: when the broadcasts finish, switch off the TV completely. Vampire power can add unnecessary euros to your bill at the end of the month.

Frequently asked questions about your electricity bill during San Fermín

How much does it cost to watch the San Fermín bull runs on television?

The cost is surprisingly low. For a 55-inch LED TV (100 W), watching all 8 bull runs and the chupinazo costs around €0.14, according to our estimates. The expense rises if we add air conditioning.

What uses more energy at home during the Sanfermines: the TV or the A/C?

Without a doubt, the air conditioning. An air conditioning unit consumes significantly more per hour than a 55-inch TV. While the TV uses barely a few cents, the air conditioning can add up to several euros if used intensively.

What time is electricity cheapest on the day of the chupinazo?

The chupinazo is on 6 July at 12:00 pm and occurs during peak hours, which are the most expensive. If you want to save money that day, you can opt to watch it when electricity is cheaper (in the early hours of the morning) and follow the tips we provide in this article.

How much do I save if I watch San Fermín on a time-of-use tariff?

If you take advantage of off-peak hours (weekends or before 8:00 am), the kWh price will be lower. Watching the weekend bull runs allows you to enjoy the festival at the minimum electricity price, which can lead to significant savings if you are also using the air conditioning at the same time.