The Art & History of Burning Man Tickets and Entry Fees
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Burning Man’s first years at Bakers Beach involved no requests for donations. However, upon moving to Black Rock Desert, the organizers began to try to collect money. Here is the history of Burning Man ticketing.
1990: The first year (Zone trip #4).
$15 donation and RSVP requested.
The Man moved from Baker Beach to Black Rock Desert in 1990. Larry Harvey distributed postcards advertising the event, which requested a $15 donation to offset the cost of the porta-potties. Read more about Burning Man 1990.
The phone number listed was Larry Harvey’s and Dan Miller’s Alamo Square home phone for many years. The poem at the top is a quote from a Dylan Thomas poem. The card below is from Larry Harvey’s personal collection.
Postcard for the first Burning Man, preserved by Larry Harvey. The phone number listed was Larry Harvey and Dan Miller’s home phone for their apartment in Alamo Square, San Francisco. Photo: Trey Harvey
First “Man” announcement. Courtesy John Law
Zone Trip 4 Announcement. Courtesy John Law
Instruction for the first playa burn. Courtesy John Law
1991
A $15 payment was requested, which would register one for the event, with the fee being sent to Larry Harvey’s home address. At the event, a “hat was passed” (Bob Gridley walked around asking for donations) and, according to John Law, several hundred dollars were collected. Read more about Burning Man 1991.
1991 Announcement (detail) Courtesy John Law
Rough Draft, including BM 1991 Announcement Courtesy John Law
1992
$25; registration requested. On the playa people were asked to pay $2 per person per day. Tickets were produced, but we have not been able to locate an image of one. We confirmed with several sources that Larry had been handing out tickets and telling people to sell them for $20 to $25.
Learn more about Burning Man 1992.
Courtesy John Law
Flyer for the first sound camp. Flyer created by Terbo Ted and DJ Niles. Note: some sources incorrectly identify this advertisement as a ticket; we confirmed with those involved with the flyer, who also had tickets, that they were two different items.
1993
$25 or $40, depending on how registered; registration required. Ticketing procedure more formalized: a numbered envelope granting admission was sent to all who preregistered. Michael Mikel coordinated the mailing, and the envelope included directions on how to reach the event location, a survival guide and a non-magnetic compass to find the event.
Learn More about Burning Man 1993.
Courtesy John Law
Courtesy John Law
1994
$30 (listed as a donation). Registration required. Ticket again issued in the form of the envelope used to send the map and basic playa information (pictured below).
Learn more about Burning Man 1994.
1994 Burning Man ticket. The envelope served as a ticket.
1995
$35; ticket issued. Printed on sheets via a Macintosh computer and then cut by hand, the bar code and black dots were meaningless. Included a photograph by Larry Harvey’s brother Stewart. It is the only year to include an image of a human: Kimric Smythe dressed as Java Cow from a photograph taken by Larry Harvey’s brother Stewart, who is a professional photographer living in Portland, OR.
Learn more about Burning Man 1995.
Courtesy Tim Hunter
Original 1993 image used for 1995 ticket. Featuring Kimric Smythe dressed as Java Cow. The bike featured is called Myra the Horse and was a fixture in early gatherings.
1996
$35; ticket issued. Included meaningless “security stamps”. Back of ticket featured rules for participation. Featured a photograph of the Man taken by William Helsel, shown below.
Learn more about Burning Man 1996.
1997
$65 in advance. $75 at gate. $20 daily fee charged for first time for day visitors (who had to also walk into the event, rather than drive). Ticket issued, including removable ticket stub, with functioning bar code. In 1997 Burning Man left Black Rock Desert to nearby Hualapai flat and the Fly Ranch, which had a single point of access, allowing the organization to charge everyone passing through the gate (other than stowaways, of which there were many). The back of the 1997 included an image of a banner created by Kevin Evans in 1991, quoting TE Lawrence. An image of the original banner is shown below. The banner was preserved by Michael Mikel, and donated to the Nevada Museum of Art.
Learn more about Burning Man 1997
1998
$65 to $100. Ticketing done via TicketWeb. Ticket were issued in multiple pricing tiers. $65 early sale, $80 advance sale, and $100 at gate.
1999
$65 to $120. Tickets were $65 until April 15th; $80 until July 31st and $100 from August 1st until the gate. Gate was $105 on first day, increasing $5 per day after that. Under 10 admitted free of charge.
2000
$95 to $250. First year ticket prices based on how many tickets sold and date cutoffs, rather than prices based only on date sold. 5,000 at $145 before April 30. 6,000 at $165 before June 30. 7,000 at $185 before July 31. Then $200 for any further advance tickets. Gate tickets were $220 on Monday and Tuesday. Thereafter, they were $250. Children under 12 admitted free (raised from under age 10 in prior year).
2001
$145 to $250. 2001 ticket prices were based solely upon the number of tickets sold. Early sales, announced only through the Jack Rabbit Speaks or postcards sent to people on the mailing list were sold at $145. 4,000 tickets were sold at $165, next 4,000 at $185, all other advance sales were $200. $250 was charged at the gate. No new sales allowed at the gate after mid-night Thursday to reduce non-participant gawkers.
2002
$135 to $200. Around 5,000 tickets at $135 to those on mailing lists (mail order only). $165, $175, $185 and $200 price tiers, based on tickets sold. $135 mail order tickets sold out in a few days. Ticketing by InHouseTicketing.com; first year in the modern format of tickets.
In 2002, LadyBee (Christine Kristen), the Burning Man arts coordinator suggested to Larry Harvey that the tickets designed by artists such that the ticket itself was a work of art. She contacted her friend and campmate, L.A. graphic artist Mark Matthews, aka SpaceCat, and the first modern ticket was born.
Mark represented the playa as a body of water and depicts an Asian flute player sailing on it in a boat, with the man floating in the distance. He also created a large mural for center camp that year (150 ft).
2003
$145 to $225. Ticket included holographic features on lettering and center of maze (see below).
Around 6,000 tickets at $145 to those on mailing lists (mail order only). 2,500 tickets sold at $165 (before January 30). Then 2,500 at $175, 2,500 at $185, 2,500 at $200, and rest at $225. Gate cost started at $250 on first day. Last sale at midnight Thursday. 10,000 orders placed via mail in first three days, resulting in changes to ticket sales in 2004.
Front ticket image: David Sanborn
Back ticket image: Tim Thompson
2004
$165 to $250. Ticket sales started March 1st. 6,000 at $165, 6,000 at $185, 7,000 AT $200, 7,000 at $225 and then $250.
$165 price tier was only available if one paid by PayPal or a debit card. This was motivated primarily by the org’s need to get cash flow quickly from ticket sales. Credit card payments were received much later than debit payment proceeds, and also had a higher processing fee. Because of the huge demand, and administrative burdens for mail order tickets, mail order was only available at the $200 and $250 price tier.
Low income ticket program formalized with additional requirements to be eligible, including a formal application. 2,000 low income tickets were made available at $145. An unspecified number of free “scholarship tickets” were also offered to the general public.
2005
$175–$250. InTicketing become Burning Man ticket vendor (then known as InHouse Ticketing). Tickets were priced as follows: first 10,000 tickets at $175, 5,000 tickets at $200, 5,000 at $225 and the rest at $250. Mail order tickets again available only at $225 and $250 levels. Credit cards only accepted for $250, with debit card or PayPal required at other pricing tiers. Low income and scholarship tickets offered. The org noted that it cost $212 per person to make Burning Man happen.
2006
$185–$280. Tickets were priced as follows: first 7,000 at $185, 7,000 at $200, 6,000 at $225 and the rest at $250 through August 13th and $280 thereafter. Credit card accepted at all price levels. Mail order only available for $225 and $250. The org noted that it cost $217 per person to make Burning Man happen.
Burning Man 2006: Hope & Fear event ticket designed by Bunnie Reiss
2007
$195–$280. The org estimated it cost $222 to make Burning Man happen. Tickets were priced as follows: 10,000 tickets at $195, 10,000 tickets at $225, 10,000 tickets at $250, the rest at $280. $195 price-tier was not available for mail order. Kids pricing chaned: Under 5 free. 5 to 12 years old receive a discounted ticket, which we believe was $145 (if you know for sure, email us!). 13 to 17 years old were full price and required a parent or guardian to accompany them.
The ticket artwork was by Hugh D’Andrade. In 2015, Hugh brought art to the playa in the form of large arches in his characteristic style.
2008
$210–$295. The first year there were no ticket sales at the gate. Tickets were priced as follows: 10,000 at $210, 10,000 at $225, 10,000 at $250 and the rest at $295.
Burning Man 2008: American Dream event ticket by Buck Down. Buck Down also designed the 2014 ticket and the 2016 official poster.
2009
$210–$300. First year with no tickets for sale at gate. First year with a higher priced “pre-sale” ticket: 1,000 at $260. 9,000 tickets at $210, 9,000 tickets at $240, 9,000 at $260, 9,000 at $280 and the rest at $300. 2,500 low income tickets at $160. Mail order allowed at all ticket levels.
2010
$210–$300. “Pre-sale tickets” offered at $280. Standard tickets were priced as follows: 9,000 at $210 each, 9,000 at $240, 9,000 at $280 or until March 31, 2010 (whichever came first), after which tickets were $300.
Burning Man 2010: Metropolis event ticket designed by Arin Fishskin. (More information here)
2011
$210–$360. The first ticket sell out in the history of the event.
On January 19th, tickets went on sale. Technical problems with the ticket system caused waits of up to 8-hours online. As the org noted:
Never has there been as large a simultaneous demand for Burning Man tickets as there was this year and as a result, our ticket vendor’s systems were quickly overwhelmed. This year’s standstill of the ticket purchase process was quite a surprise, since the technical systems hadn’t changed from the smooth launch in 2010. However, the demand challenged the servers managing the queues and as the InTicketing staff worked to balance the load and we worked to inform you of the situation the process became more complicated before it was resolved.
Within a few weeks the first three ticket tiers had sold out; faster than past years. Around July 24th, tickets sold out. High demand for the event, combined with the BLM’s first cap on participants being imposed in the 2010 five-year permit renewal to produce the sellout.
Tickets priced as follows: 9,000 at $210, 9,000 at $240, 9,000 at $280 and the remaining tickets at $320.
Burning Man 2011: Rites of Passage event ticket designed by Android Jones. (More information on the design is found here).
2012
$240–$420. 2012 was the first year to introduce a ticket lottery, which has survived in its basic form. The STEP program was introduced in the midst of the ticket lottery phase. Directed group sales was also created, as an emergency measure, as described below.
The plan was to have a pre-sale phase at a higher price, followed by a lottery sale, and finally open ticket sales.
Pre-sale phase: In November and December, 2011, tickets were sold at $420, limited to four per person.
Next, 40,000 were sold via lottery at $240, $320 or $390. When you registered for the lottery you specified the maximum you would pay. If your name was drawn in the first round, you’d pay $240 regardless of what you specified; if drawn in the second round you’d pay $320 so long as you had specified you’d be willing to pay that amount. Those drawn last would pay $390 so long as they indicated they were willing to pay at that tier.
Finally, 10,000 were planned to be sold at $390 per person in a first-come, first-serve system, which happened after the lottery sales had ended, akin to the modern OMG sale.
Once the lottery began, it was apparent things were going very wrong. First, the org had expected around 50,000 applications for the 40,000 tickets. Instead, over 80,000 applications were received. The org noted:
It is clear that many people seeking Burning Man tickets for 2012 padded their odds by requesting more tickets than they need, and having friends, family and campmates ALSO register, ALSO requesting more tickets than they need. JRS, January 27, 2012
Concerned over the extra tickets ending up on eBay at inflated prices, the org instituted the STEP program, to allow ticket exchanges at face value.
It soon became apparent that the event was facing a crisis, as camp leaders, and others who needed to attend to orchestrate the basic backbone of the community driven event hadn’t received tickets. In reaction, the org cancelled the final ticket phase, and distributed the 10,000 tickets in the first directed sale, primarily to camp leaders, artists and other key participants that made the event come together.
The organization explained the situation in multiple emails and web-postings, and citing variety of reasons for the over-subscription, including the release of a viral video (Oh the places you'll go…) shortly before the ticket selling began. This posting provides the best overview of what happened in the ill fated 2012 sale.
By event time, it was clear that many who had purchased the tickets “just in case” were not going to go, and in San Francisco many tickets changed hands free of charge in the weeks leading up to the event.
Burning Man 2012: Fertility 2.0 event ticket designed by Cory & Catska Ench
2013
$380 to $650. Burner Profiles created. Modern ticket sales structure cemented, with a high priced pre-registration phase (the “Holiday Sale”), a directed group sales phase, a main sale (called “the individual sale”) and the OMG sale introduced. Preregistration was required for all phases. 10,000 tickets at $380 were reserved for directed sales. The“Holiday Sale” included 3,000 at $650 each, with a minimum of 3% of the ticket price going to the newly created “Burning Man Project” non-profit. Low income tickets expanded to 4,000 at $190 each. The “Individual Sale” includes 40,000 at $380. The OMG sale is introduced, with “1,000+” tickets available on August 7th at $380 (will call only)
Tickets sold out quickly, and while there were some technical glitches, the ticket sale went reasonably smoothly. One happy participant posted a video of the grand ticket opening.
Burning Man 2013: Cargo Cult event ticket designed by Spencer Cathcart, who noted:
I tried to make the ticket look like a boarding pass to the spaceship that was the pedestal of this years man. It also has a military/war feeling to reflect the Cargo Cult Theme. The details on the ticket that you can't see are all stats, facts and the location of planet earth. Most importantly; there are no rules in graphic design. I broke more than I could count and if you understand Burning Man, you would understand that a consistent group of typefaces, colours, and grids makes no sense. This is far from a corporate design system.
2014
$380 to $650. Vehicle pass introduced: 35,000 Vehicle Passes at $40. Pre-sale: 3,000 tickets available at $650. DGS: 15,000 tickets available at $380. Individual sale: 38,000 tickets at $380 and OMG Sale: 1,000 tickets at $380.
Ticket design by Buck Down designs, designer of the 2008 ticket and the 2016 official poster.
2015
$390 to $800. Presale: 4,000 tickets available at $800, with a six ticket limit. DGS: 20,000 tickets available at $390 and 10,000 vehicle passes available at $50. Individual sale: 40,000 tickets at $390 each, and 12,000 vehicle passes available at $50. 1,000 tickets at $390 each, and 1250 vehicle passes available at $50.
A simple hack allowed some potential purchasers to jump into the cue prior to the sale. The tickets, however, were cancelled and resold.
Ticket was designed by Mark Harrison (Black Bird 55 Design).
“The design for this ticket, Carnival of Mirrors is a visual metaphor for our lives. They unfold and as they do, our faces evolve into versions we present to the world. We are dualities; yin/yang, competent/needy, occult prophets of love and ire, becoming everything the world needs us to be. Along the corridors of life we assume many faces, many reflections of our complex natures. The passing of time often reveals a most hidden and elusive quest, that of discovering among all the masks, the essence of who we really are, the birthplace of those facets. Only as we journey through the mazes of everyday life can we begin to understand and become one with our true inner spirit. Ultimately accepting all that we are and all that we’ve been brings us to understanding of our own truth. The design, evoking a late 19th century carnival theme, lures and beckons us to know that truth, inviting us to step through the rabbit hole that is the portal of that journey, leading us finally to embrace that unique and wondrous fire within. ”
2016
$390 to $1,200. Presale: 5,000 ticket at $990 and 500 “Leonardo da Vinci Art Tickets” at $1,200, with a limit of four tickets in each bracket for a total of eight. DGS: 25,000 tickets available at $390 and approximately 13,000 vehicle passes available at $80. Individual sale: 30,000 tickets at $390 each, and approximately 10,000 vehicle passes available at $80. OMG: 1,000 tickets at $390, and approximately 1,500 vehicle passes available at $80
2017
$425 to $1,200. “Individual sale” renamed “Main sale”. 5,000 tickets available in this sale, at two different ticket prices: $990 each and $1,200 each. May purchase four $990 tickets and four $1200 tickets, which may have encouraged scalpers to buy ticket blocks. DGS: 26,000 tickets available at $425 each and approximately 13,000 vehicle passes available at $80. 2,500 additional DGS tickets at $425 were released for artists, groups, staff and volunteers. Individual sale: 30,000 tickets at $425 each, and approximately 10,000 vehicle passes available at $80. A new high-cost, last minute tier was introduced: 500 additional tickets at $1,200 each available in April, after the individual sale, presumably for those that failed to obtain tickets in the individual sale. OMG: 2,000 tickets at $425, and approximately 1,500 vehicle passes available at $80.
2018
$425 to $1,200 5,000 for the presale tickets at $990 and $1,200. DGS: 30,000 at $425. Main sale: 26,000 at $425. After main sale additional (unspecified number) of $1,200 tickets. Finally, 2,000 OMG tickets at $425. $425 tickets sell out immediately in each ticket phase. Scalpers sell tickets in excess of $1,000, and reaching $2,000 per ticket.
2019
Burning Man signals a change in cultural direction, targeting scalpers and pay-to-play camps. In addition to banning a high profile p2p camp, the org raises the price of the pre-sale ticket to $1,400, roughly the prevailing price of scalped tickets. They also increase the allocation to DGS tickets, presumably on the theory they have influence over the performance of such camps. The DGS ticket sale happens before the higher priced “pre-sale tickets”, and as a result the “pre-sale” is renamed FO’MO. (Some claim FO’MO stands for “Fear of Missing Out” We believe it is short for Fo’ Mo’ Money.) Finally, for unspecified reasons, they increase the OMG price above the standard price for the first time.
DGS: 32,000 tickets at $425 and 15,000 vehicle passes at $100. A second round of directed sales happen later in the summer with “several thousand” additional tickets allocated to artists, groups, staff, and volunteers. FO’MO: 4,000 tickets available, at $1,400. Main sale: 23,000 tickets at $425, and 10,000 vehicle passes.
The main sale was a technological nightmare. People applying for tickets experienced a variety of issues: white screens after getting to the ticket buying window (requiring clearing the cache of the browser to buy tickets), the ability to purchase tickets but the final screen lacking a button to complete the transaction (persistent clicking all around the screen solved this for some) and numerous other issues. A new ticket vendor, ShowClix apologized for the issue, noting human error caused the problem.
While the OMG ticket phase had less technical glitches, the system remained clumsy, with people waiting an hour with a spinning icon only to learn they haven’t been awarded tickets.
2020
The 2020 ticket sale was close in structure to 2019, although directed group sales were allocated more tickets, at the expense of the general sale. The price also went up to $550 for DGS and Main Sale tickets, and $600 for OMG tickets. Vehicle passes also went up to $150. Here are the details.
FO’MO Sale: 4,000 tickets at $1,400
Directed Group Sale: 35,000 tickets at $550. 15,000 vehicle passes
Main Sale: 20,000 tickets at $550. 10,000 vehicle passes available at $150
OMG Sale: 3,000 tickets at $600. 1,500 vehicle passes available at $150.
Low Income: An additional 4,500 tickets are offered as part of the low income program at $225.
Prior to the tickets being issued, the event was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. Ultimately ticket costs (but not fees) were refunded to all those that purchased them. Several forms of tickets were issued to various supporter groups, ranging from volunteers to financial supporters.