What Happened
President José Raúl Mulino has signed Law 516 of April 7, 2026, creating the Board of Trustees of the Festival of the Handsome Bull of Antón. The measure establishes a formal organizing body for one of Coclé province’s best-known folkloric celebrations and gives it responsibility for ensuring the festival is held every year in the district of Antón.
The new board will also oversee the use of public funds assigned to the festival, with those resources to be used only for conservation, promotion and development of the cultural activity.
Who Will Make Up the Board
The board will include representatives from the Ministry of Culture, the Panama Tourism Authority, the Antón Municipal Council, the Municipality of Antón and the Antón Community Board. It will also incorporate two representatives from civic associations in the region, chosen through their organizations and selected by the board’s legal representative.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture will appoint a folklore specialist from Antón to be part of the structure.
Funding and Promotion
Law 516 also defines how the festival will be financed. Beyond the allocation already provided under Law 25 of 2009, the Tourism Authority must designate a budget line for tourism promotion of the event. The Municipality of Antón will also provide an annual budget contribution.
The arrangement is designed to strengthen both the cultural and tourism value of the celebration. By tying funding to institutional responsibilities, the law aims to give the festival a more stable framework for planning and promotion.
Why the Festival Matters
The Festival of the Handsome Bull of Antón, also known as the Toro Guapo festival, is considered one of the most representative traditional expressions of Coclé. The celebration is tied to the preservation and promotion of local customs and folklore in the district of Antón.
The law also amends Article 1 of Law 10 of 2004, declaring October 15 Civic Day and the National Folkloric Festival of the Handsome Bull of Antón in the district of Antón, province of Coclé. The festival will continue to be celebrated during the second and third week of October each year.
With the new legal framework, the government is formalizing the organization of a festival that holds cultural importance for the district and broader provincial identity. The change also places stronger emphasis on tourism promotion and sustained public support for its annual celebration.