Burning Man’s appeal appears to be fading among festival-goers, as tickets are still available ahead of the August 25 kickoff. It’s the first time since 2011 that the event has sold out shortly before opening day.
Bad weather during the desert event over the past two years appears to be slowing ticket sales for this year’s Burning Man, which runs from August 25 to September 2.
After Burning Man 2022 attendees endured extreme heat, heavy rain and muddy conditions in 2023, Many would-be “Burners,” as festivalgoers are called, are staying home this year. Economic factors may also be at play, as tickets for the event in Black Rock City, Nevada, are selling for $575 each, and some consumers cut back on expenses after years of high inflation.
Tickets are still available directly from the organizer for the typically sold-out event, and they’re selling for about half price on resale sites. The Burning Man Project, the nonprofit that puts on the festival, is hosting an “OMG Ticket Sale” on its website, selling last-minute tickets even to guests who haven’t registered in advance, a typical requirement to attend.
This year, Burning Man is selling 3,000 tickets for $575 each, plus 1,500 vehicle passes for $150. Those who decide to go at the last minute can also check resale sites like StubHub for even cheaper admission.
One resale ad offers two general admission tickets for $268 each, while another ad offers two tickets for $279 each.
Last-minute Burning Man ticket sales
Burning Man was founded in San Francisco in 1986 and moved to the desert in 1990. According to organizers, the event has typically drawn around 80,000 people in recent years. According to The Guardian, it has sold out every year since 2011.
Marian Goodell, executive director of Burning Man, told The New York Times this week that organizers determine how many tickets they sell each year, and “when demand drops, we just turn the tap back on.”
“By opening the OMG Sale to everyone, including those who haven’t registered, and selling instant gratification tickets at points of sale in San Francisco and Reno, we’re creating the opportunity to make this ‘the year’ that people interested in creativity, innovation and culture come to Black Rock City,” Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley, Burning Man’s associate director of communications, said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.
He added that the decision to sell tickets at the last minute also reflects “recent global trends that show people buying tickets at the last minute and continuing to sell tickets until the maximum number of Black Rock City residents is reached. This drives urgency and makes it easier for more people to immerse themselves in the heart of the global Burning Man cultural movement.”
Goodell added in a statement that the sale is “a great opportunity to connect more people interested in Burning Man and arts and culture.”
What happened last year?
Last year’s extreme weather may deter people from coming this year. In 2023, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office closed the main road leading to the festival entrance, leaving attendees stranded on the grounds for days. They were told to conserve resources while they waited for road conditions to improve.
And in 2022, temperatures during the festival rose to over 38 degrees Celsius.
According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, music festivals Coachella and Lollapalooza are also struggling with ticket sales this year, suggesting that economic considerations may be playing a role.
Ticket prices are only part of the cost of attending Burning Man. After factoring in flights, vehicle passes, costumes and other necessities, attendees say they spend thousands to take part in the festivities.
In recent years, Burning Man has attracted a greater share of high-income earners, with 35% of attendees earning between $100,000 and $299,999 in 2023, up from 21% in 2015, according to demographic data. Meanwhile, there has been a sharp decline in those earning less than $50,000 a year, according to the same data.
But there are signs that even wealthier Americans are beginning to rein in their spending, which could be contributing to this year’s weaker-than-usual Burning Man ticket sales. A survey released in June by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found that a third of people making more than $150,000 said they were worried about how they would make ends meet over the next six months.
Lower kimono sales
Businesses that serve Burning Man revelers also say they’re feeling the pressure. David Carr, owner of San Francisco clothing store Kimono Dave, said the store typically generates 40 percent of all sales in the week leading up to Burning Man, according to the San Francisco Standard.
This year that may not be the case.
“This whole year has been a struggle,” Carr told the news outlet. “I’ve just seen a huge decline, personally, but also from the people around me.”
