BURNING MAN
What Is Burning Man?
The 10 Principles and What to Bring
If you’re new to the world of raves and festivals, there are many different events to discover. One of those events is Burning Man, which draws people from all over the world every year. Today, we will tell you everything you should know about Burning Man.
Facts checked October 2, 2026
In this guide
What Is Burning Man?
First things, Burning Man is not a festival. It’s a community and a cultural movement that hosts events around the world. The Burning Man event in particular happens in Nevada, USA, and they build a temporary city called Black Rock City for the occasion on the playa, a dry lakebed in the Black Rock Desert.
The event takes place at the end of summer and it’s about a week of celebration that includes Labor Day weekend. It’s called “Burning Man” because, near the end of the festivities, they burn a large wooden figure, referred to as “the Man.”
Burning Man dates to 1986, when the first Man burned on San Francisco’s Baker Beach. Today, Black Rock City is known as an experiment in temporary community. Since cell service is spotty at best, many people fully disconnect from everything, and they camp out in the desert to focus on art, self-expression, and self-reliance.
What Are the 10 Principles of Burning Man?
Burning Man is guided by 10 Principles, which were defined by Larry Harvey, a co-founder of the event. They serve as guidelines for everyone who attends the event, and these principles perfectly reflect the ethos of this community.
The 10 Principles are:
Radical inclusion
Everyone is welcome.
Gifting
Gift-giving for the sake of it is highly encouraged.
Decommodification
The community aims to keep the event free of ads, sponsorships, and commercial transactions. Ice is the only thing sold in Black Rock City.
Radical self-reliance
Everyone is encouraged to discover, practice, and rely on their inner resources.
Radical self-expression
Self-expression is considered a gift you give to others, so you should respect the rights and freedoms of the people receiving it.
Communal effort
Cooperation and collaboration are encouraged.
Civic responsibility
Civil society is highly valued, so community members who organize events are expected to take responsibility for public welfare and follow the law.
Leaving no trace
Respect the environment, clean up after yourself, and leave the environment better than you found it.
Participation
Personal participation is encouraged through work, play, and actions that open your heart up.
Immediacy
Seek immediate experiences to overcome barriers between you and your inner self.
What to Bring to Burning Man?
Think of Burning Man as a camping trip to the desert. That means you must bring everything you need to survive out there for the entirety of the event. And remember, gift-giving and sharing are encouraged, so bring even more than you think you’ll need.
Including a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, etc. Our camping checklist for music festivals is a good base list to start from. You should also bring a bicycle to move around, but make sure to get a lock because bike theft is not uncommon. You can also bring extras, including outfits, toys, and alcohol if you’re 21 or older.
In short, Burning Man is a community where you can be fully yourself and connect with yourself and other people. Thousands flock to Black Rock City every year and everyone agrees that it’s an experience you should have at least once.
Attending Burning Man is all about expressing yourself through unique fashion choices. If you’re looking for the perfect festival outfits, be sure to check out our festival outfit collections!
A cloak for Black Rock City
Burning Man is a camping trip to the desert. A cloak goes over any outfit, on the bike and around camp.
Facts checked October 2, 2026 against the sources below.
Rave Bonfire's content team · Rave and festival life, explained plainly.
SOURCES
- Burning Man Project, The 10 Principles, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Project, Black Rock City FAQ, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Project, First-Timer's Guide, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Project, Black Rock City, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man history timeline, 1986, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Project, Founders' Voices (Larry Harvey), accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Survival Guide, Getting help, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Burning Man Survival Guide, Specific laws to be aware of, accessed October 2, 2026.