We might have seen peak Burning Man
For many, the Labor Day weekend means kicking back and relaxing with loved ones. For thousands of others, it’s going to the Nevada desert to construct a temporary city, take in an array of art and live music performances, and party at Burning Man.
This year, though, appetite for the event attended by tech billionaires and techno lovers alike burned a little less brightly, with tickets failing to sell out in advance for the first time in almost 15 years, according to some reports.
Last year’s downpour in the desert, which left thousands stranded in Black Rock City, has likely perturbed a lot of would-be burners this year. In 2023, organizers estimated that ~77,000 came out to take in everything that the desert had to offer, which was already down from the pre-pandemic peak of 78,850. The figure’s said to have dropped to the ~70,000 mark for this year.
Like Coachella before it (where ticket sales dropped around 15% this year), Burning Man 2024 likely suffered from cash-strapped revelers wearied by inflation choosing to prioritize other ways to spend their money.
This year, though, appetite for the event attended by tech billionaires and techno lovers alike burned a little less brightly, with tickets failing to sell out in advance for the first time in almost 15 years, according to some reports.
Last year’s downpour in the desert, which left thousands stranded in Black Rock City, has likely perturbed a lot of would-be burners this year. In 2023, organizers estimated that ~77,000 came out to take in everything that the desert had to offer, which was already down from the pre-pandemic peak of 78,850. The figure’s said to have dropped to the ~70,000 mark for this year.
Like Coachella before it (where ticket sales dropped around 15% this year), Burning Man 2024 likely suffered from cash-strapped revelers wearied by inflation choosing to prioritize other ways to spend their money.
