The past four years have not been good to Burning Man. First, there were two years of pandemic closures, then the infamous mud swamp of 2023, when torrential rains turned the alkali flats into goo and sparked a mass exodus. Another festival might have called it quits after such a string of losses — after COVID alone, many competitors did just that. But with guests like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, Burning Man is too big to fail. It may even be too big to be Burning Man.
The festival’s premise is simple: what would it look like to build a temporary, unregulated city deep in the Nevada desert, where the laws and norms of society need not apply? Since its move from San Francisco in 1991, (the first event took place five years earlier with a much smaller crowd) Burning Man’s answer to this question has been increasingly clear. It looks like a Martian metropolis of sculptures visible from space. It looks like a pirate in a tutu playing a ukulele. It looks like the Salvador Dalí Museum come to life.
All of this makes for great Instagram content, but with its recent bout of bad luck, Burning Man heads into 2024 in the grip of a midlife crisis. It has even gone so far as to auction off its ostensibly ephemeral artwork for much needed cash. The new question is: how can radical self-reliance be made profitable without mimicking the systems of commerce that the event claims to denounce? This has long been the festival’s central contradiction. The effigy of The Man burned ceremonially each year represents capitalism, labor, greed and power, yet the festival’s average attendee is wealthy, white, middle-aged and male. Perhaps the irony is what gives the image its power. The Man is burning himself.
The Specs
Around 75,000 people attend
Tickets are $575 each, and vehicle passes are an additional $150
Check out our list of quirky roadside attractions to see along the way
Playlists
Videos
FAQs
What is Burning Man?
Burning Man is a nine-day American festival that takes place annually in Northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It’s a counterculture celebration of art, community, expression and self-reliance. The Burning Man Project, a 501 nonprofit organization, produces the Burning Man event. (Burning Man Project was formerly known as Black Rock City, LLC (BRC).)
Which airport is closest to the festival grounds?
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is 127 miles away.
Where does Burning Man take place exactly?
It takes places in Black Rock Desert which is in northwestern Nevada. Each year, tens of thousands of Burners turn the Black Rock Desert into Black Rock City.
I’m going to Burning Man for the first time. What do I need to know?
Your first Burn? Burning Man actually has a whole guide for you.
What was the number of Burning Man attendees in 2023?
72,000-75,000.
Where was the first Burning Man?
The first one was held on June 22, 1986, on Baker Beach in San Francisco
How far is San Francisco, California from the Burning Man site (Black Rock City) in Nevada?
The distance between San Francisco and Black Rock City is 345 miles.
What is the bag policy?
There is no official bag policy. Sunscreen, earplugs and lots of water are highly recommended.
Is the festival ADA-accessible?
Accessibility vehicle licenses are issued through the Burning Man DMV (“Department of Mutant Vehicles”). Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters do not require licensing according to the Burning Man organization. Please note that there are no paved surfaces in Black Rock City and the desert terrain can be rough.
What is the “playa” at Burning Man?
The playa, or Black Rock Playa, is dried desert lakebed where Burning Man Festival takes place. “Playa” is Spanish for “beach.”
What’s a “Burner”?
The community of people partaking in the festival will refer to themselves as Burners. A Burner is not just someone who shows up, but an active participant in the Burn.
Who founded Burning Man?
Larry Harvey and Jerry James, two members of San Francisco’s arts community, founded Burning Man in 1986.
What are Burning Man’s guiding principles?
According to co-founder Larry Harvey, the event is guided by the ten principles of Burning Man: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.
What is a theme camp?
Theme camps are “groups of participants who, together, contribute a service, engagement, art, or other creative interactive experience available for citizens of Black Rock City without an expectation of anything in return,” according to the website.
What are art cars?
Burning Man Arts encourages artists to “change the notion of art from a commodified or ‘packaged’ object to an interactive, participatory, shared experience of creative expression,” according to the Burning Man site. Following this idea, art cars emerged on the playa. They are exactly what they sound like: customized automobiles — painted and tricked-out cars, RVs, trucks, bikes, golf carts, etc. — that get people around.
What’s the difference between a mutant vehicle and an art car at Burning Man?
You’ll find both at the festival. Mutant vehicles are the more elaborately modified vehicles while art cars are usually decorated autos. Attendees who want to bring mutant vehicles must submit their designs in advance to the event’s Department of Mutant Vehicles.
Can you use social media at Burning Man?
Yes, but there are restrictions for commercial use. See this for more details.
What is the Burning Man Temple?
The Temple at Burning Man is a large, wooden structure where Burners can gather and pray. It’s a non-denominational space and it’s burned at the end of the festival.
Who is Duane Flatmo?
He’s an artist who’s work and art installations are often seen at Burning Man. Check out his Wikipedia page.
What are the Burning Man artworks in Reno?
Two former Burning Man art pieces, the Space Whale and Believe, now sit in the heart of Reno.