Photo Credit: Eelco Böhtlingk
The Burning Man Festival is supposed to be a place to bring people together. But torrential rains in 2023 resulted in one death and thousands stranded in the mud mire—with the 2024 edition of the festival lighter than ever. Now organizers report a $14 million shortfall for Burning Man 2025 and they’re seeking donations to make it happen.
The 2023 edition of the festival gave the self-proclaimed ‘radically self-sufficient’ attendees a run for their money as they faced torrential rains, quicksand-like mud, and food and water issues. The weather got so bad that a no-drive order was issued on Friday after a half inch of rain fell on the dusty salt flat in Black Rock—turning the dried lake bed into an actual lake.
Diplo posted about his experience at the 2023 festival, stating he and Chris Rock walked five miles together to get out of the muddy lake bed. The result is that the 2024 edition of Burning Man was the first year the festival hasn’t sold out since 2011. Tickets for Burning Man sell for around $575 a pop, so dealing with extreme weather in the desert likely hasn’t appealed to Burners. The festival typically draws in around 80,000 people a year—though enthusiasm going forward seems to have waned.
In a letter sent by Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell, the festival has a $14 million shortfall due to low ticket sales last year and a lack of enthusiasm this year.
“We started 2024 with a commitment to raise $10m philanthropically,” the letter begins. “This was up 20% from the $8.2 million raised in 2023. Due to the ticket sales shortfall to Black Rock City in 2024, we found ourselves needing to make mission-aligned budget adjustments and raise the remaining deficit to the tune of approximately $10 million—this in addition to the initial $10 million goal.”
“We cut expenses, reduced the year-round workforce, deferred some payments, got reductions on our office rentals, and doubled down on our commitment to do more to Bring Burning Man and Black Rock City to the world, not less.”
“While global engagement is at an all time high, revenue from Black Rock City ticket sales does not cover our programming. The future of Black Rock City and everything we support…is under threat,” said a spokesperson from Burning Man Project, the nonprofit which organizes Burning Man.
“Without philanthropy, everything is at risk and, as we look ahead, it is clear that the world needs more mechanisms to bridge the gap between people, reduce loneliness, and inspire creativity, and this is exactly what Burning Man does. We appreciate support from dedicated major donors and from the wider community to keep Burning Man accessible to anyone, everywhere.”
Organizers of Burning Man canceled the 2020 event due to pandemic restrictions. It then raised $39 million in 2020 and 2021 for the return of Burning Man 2022. But high temperatures in 2022 scorched Burners, while torrential rains in 2023 flooded them out. Marian Goodell says ticket sales alone cannot fund the event; she says it costs around $750 per participant, though basic ticket prices are only $575. The Burning Man Project is seeking donations to shore up the shortfall, though they’ve stopped short at saying Burning Man 2025 will be canceled if funds aren’t raised.