Gen Zers have cooled on Burning Man as the desert festival gets pricier

Gen Zers have cooled on Burning Man as the desert festival gets pricier

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Katherine Li

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Burning Man is falling out of favor with Gen Zers.

As the annual counterculture festival kicks off in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada, the annual Black Rock City census survey, which tracks the demographics of festival attendees, shows that burners in their 20s hit a record low in 2025.

According to the survey, around 10% of surveyed burners in 2025 are in their 20s at the time of attendance, compared to more than 30% back in 2015. The figure has been in steady decline over the past decade, but it took a much steeper nosedive after the festival resumed in 2022 following a two-year pandemic hiatus.

The survey, which also asks respondents about their biggest obstacles to attending the festival, provided insights into why younger attendees feel deterred.

In 2025, more than a quarter of survey respondents said that the cost of attendance was their largest obstacle, while another 16% cited getting time off from work or school. More than 10% also said that learning how to prepare for a week in the desert is a challenge, since participants are expected to bring their own water, food, and camping gear.

The price of admission to Burning Man has climbed over the past decade, and the Burning Man Project, the organization behind the festival, has faced funding shortages in recent years as ticket prices have struggled to offset operational costs. According to the organization's financial disclosures, it lost $265 per main ticket sold in 2024.

Compared to the main ticket price of $390 in 2015, Burning Man tickets started at $550 in 2026, while a vehicle pass cost another $165. That put the lowest advertised price for someone driving alone at $715 before taxes and processing fees. Including camping gear, food, water, transportation, and camping fees, those costs can easily push the total price of attending beyond $1,000, particularly for first-timers.

The Burning Man Project did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

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Katherine Li

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• gen z