Visual Documentation of Burning Man's Evolving Culture and Atmosphere

19 surreal photos show the mud, chaos, and glamour of Burning Man

Andy Barron/USA TODAY via Reuters Every year, the question returns: Has Burning Man lost its edge? First tech billionaires turned the desert oasis into their playground. Then the festival's younger crowd began to thin. Burning Man has been deemed uncool by Gen Z: In 2025, 10% of surveyed attendees were in their 20s, down from more than 30% in 2015. And still, an estimated 70,000 made the pilgrimage to Black Rock City this year, braving dust storms and the logistical gymnastics of surviving f...