As to be expected, music events worldwide are well underway with cancellation announcements in the wake of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic — and now you can add Burning Man to the growing list of festivals taking a seat in 2020.
The festival, which was scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 7, will no longer be taking place in Black Rock City, NV, this year.
Festival organizers issued the following statement on Friday (April 10) regarding the cancellation:
Given the painful reality of COVID-19, one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, we believe this is the right thing to do. Yes, we are heartbroken. We know you are too. In 2020 we need human connection and Immediacy more than ever. But public health and the well-being of our participants, staff, and neighbors in Nevada are our highest priorities.
We're committed to providing refunds to those who need them, but we're also committed to keeping Burning Man culture alive and thriving, and to ensuring our organization stays operational into next year's event season — which will require substantial staff layoffs, pay reductions, and other belt-tightening measures. Burning Man Project's survival is going to depend on ingenuity and generosity.
Despite the festival's cancellation this year, Burning Man does plan to offer some sort of virtual experience in "The Multiverse."
"In the Multiverse, Black Rock City exists online, a virtual metropolis waiting for us to come Home," organizers wrote. "We can still build it together, and be together, and Burn together, only digitally instead of in the dust. On the virtual playa, there are no limits to who can join. So let's do this together."
This is the first time in the festival's 35-year history that the event will not take place.
See the cancellation message from Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell below, and learn more about Virtual Black Rock City 2020 here.
The festival, which was scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 7, will no longer be taking place in Black Rock City, NV, this year.
Festival organizers issued the following statement on Friday (April 10) regarding the cancellation:
Given the painful reality of COVID-19, one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, we believe this is the right thing to do. Yes, we are heartbroken. We know you are too. In 2020 we need human connection and Immediacy more than ever. But public health and the well-being of our participants, staff, and neighbors in Nevada are our highest priorities.
We're committed to providing refunds to those who need them, but we're also committed to keeping Burning Man culture alive and thriving, and to ensuring our organization stays operational into next year's event season — which will require substantial staff layoffs, pay reductions, and other belt-tightening measures. Burning Man Project's survival is going to depend on ingenuity and generosity.
Despite the festival's cancellation this year, Burning Man does plan to offer some sort of virtual experience in "The Multiverse."
"In the Multiverse, Black Rock City exists online, a virtual metropolis waiting for us to come Home," organizers wrote. "We can still build it together, and be together, and Burn together, only digitally instead of in the dust. On the virtual playa, there are no limits to who can join. So let's do this together."
This is the first time in the festival's 35-year history that the event will not take place.
See the cancellation message from Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell below, and learn more about Virtual Black Rock City 2020 here.