Burning Man is falling retired of favour pinch Gen Zers.
As the yearly counterculture show kicks disconnected successful the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada, the yearly Black Rock City census survey, which tracks the demographics of show attendees, shows that burners successful their 20s deed a grounds debased successful 2025.
According to the survey, astir 10% of surveyed burners successful 2025 are successful their 20s astatine the clip of attendance, compared to much than 30% backmost successful 2015. The fig has been successful dependable diminution complete the past decade, but it took a overmuch steeper nosedive aft the show resumed successful 2022 pursuing a two-year pandemic hiatus.
The survey, which besides asks respondents astir their biggest obstacles to attending the festival, provided insights into why younger attendees consciousness deterred.
In 2025, much than a 4th of study respondents said that the cost of attendance was their largest obstacle, while different 16% cited getting clip disconnected from activity aliases school. More than 10% besides said that learning really to hole for a week successful the godforsaken is simply a challenge, since participants are expected to bring their ain water, food, and camping gear.
The value of admittance to Burning Man has climbed complete the past decade, and the Burning Man Project, the statement down the festival, has faced funding shortages successful caller years arsenic summons prices person struggled to offset operational costs. According to the organization's financial disclosures, it mislaid $265 per main summons sold successful 2024.
Compared to the main summons value of $390 successful 2015, Burning Man tickets started astatine $550 successful 2026, while a conveyance walk costs different $165. That put the lowest advertised value for personification driving unsocial astatine $715 earlier taxes and processing fees. Including camping gear, food, water, transportation, and camping fees, those costs tin easy push the full value of attending beyond $1,000, peculiarly for first-timers.
The Burning Man Project did not instantly respond to a petition for comments.
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