Spain's top bullfighters are gathered in Barcelona for a final day of fights before the blood sport is banned across the northeastern region of Catalonia.

Three matadors will each put two bulls to death by the sword in the century-old La Monumental arena in Barcelona.

The ban takes effect on January 1, but Sunday's fights are the last events of the 2011 season in the Catalan capital.

The regional legislature banned the centuries-old tradition last year, after Catalans signed a petition against it.

Bullfight supporters are still hoping they can overturn the ban before it can go into effect.

Bullfighting will still be legal everywhere else in Spain except in the Canary Islands, where it was banned in 1991.