Burning Man does not seem to be an attractive proposition for Gen Z anymore. The Black Rock City census survey tracking the enumeration of festival attendees shows an all-time low in 2025 for patrons in their 20s. The numbers arrive at a time when it is time for the annual showpiece to commence in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada. It also apparently uncovers the reason for this drop. Relevant to note that admission prices for Burning Man have taken a steep hike over the past decade.
The survey testified that only 10% of the attendees were in their 20s. This drastic drop is comparatively alarming considering the numbers in 2015. A whopping 30% of the same crowd attributed to the numbers a decade ago. A stable decline over the years took a sudden plunge after the festival returned in 2022. The return was after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic. In addition to ticket sales failing to cover cost of operations of late, the organization has also faced funding crunch over the years.
The survey also questioned the participants about the apparent reason for this decline. More than a fourth answered that the cost associated with the festival was a deterrent. Around 16% quoted challenges in skipping school or college due to lack of time off. Surviving a week in the desert also played a major role for around 10% in skipping the festival. Another factor that contributes to a higher cost for BM over other festivals is that attendees must manage their own food and water supplies along with the necessary camping gear.
