Burning Man 2021 has been cancelled

Burning Man 2021 has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Burning Man CEO Marian Goodell said in a statement: “We know the need for community has never been stronger. We also recognise the pandemic is not over. We have decided to focus our energy on building Black Rock City 2022."

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In 2019, Burning Man drew in almost 80,000 attendees marking it the most visited year in the event’s 35-year history. The 2021 edition had a planned cap of 69,000 guests but will not go ahead due to ongoing uncertainty.

Organisers claim that they still aim to host local events globally during the week that typically leads up to ‘Labor Day’, an American celebration where a wood effigy is traditionally burnt. Goodell said: “We’re not cancelling Burning Man. We’re just not doing Black Rock City. We are going to celebrate ‘Burn Week’ online and offline.”

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The news follows a string of recent cancellations of large events globally, with Glastonbury and Boomtown organisers recently announcing the postponing of their major UK festivals.

Subsequently, more festivals in the UK are due to cancel if they don’t receive government-backed insurance over the coming weeks with a last-minute urge for support. Even with funding from the Arts Council England, uncertainty and lack of support saw Boomtown - attended by 75,000 each year - cancel last week.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter

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