Burning Man is a week-long, large-scale desert event focused on "community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance" held annually in the western United States. The event takes place in Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis created in Nevadas Black Rock Desert. It was first inaugurated on June 22, 1986, and has been held every year since then, with 2023 being its 37th year.
The name "Burning Man" comes from its culminating ceremony, which involves the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as the Man, on the penultimate night of the event (Saturday evening before Labor Day). The festival is not just a gathering but a community and global cultural movement guided by 10 practical principles. These principles include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, and leaving no trace, among others.
The event attracts tens of thousands of participants, with the official count in 2019 being 78,850 and an unofficial count in 2021 of 20,000. It is organized by the Burning Man Project, a nonprofit organization that also provides year-round support, connection, education, and grants to a growing network of regional Burning Man communities in more than 40 US states and 35 countries.
Burning Man is not a traditional festival but a participatory experience where the activities of its participants shape the event. The power of every Burning Man experience is held by each member of the community, and ways to participate are as unlimited as one's imagination. The event is known for its focus on art, self-expression, and communal effort, with participants encouraged to bring their creativity and share their gifts with others.
