Burning Man cancels Black Rock City festival, but show will go on in ‘The Multiverse’

Burning Man 2020 will still happen during the coronavirus pandemic — it will just happen virtually.

Organizers said Friday that the 2020 Black Rock CIty event will not be happening in the way they originally thought.

“After much listening, discussion, and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to build Black Rock City in 2020,” Burning Man Project organizers said in a statement. “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.”

That doesn’t mean the event is fully canceled, though. Organizers said they plan to “build Black Rock City in The Multiverse,” according to the statement. They aren’t sure what the virtual event will look like yet.

“We look forward to welcoming you to Virtual Black Rock City 2020,” the statement said. “We’re not sure how it’s going to come out; it will likely be messy and awkward with mistakes. It will also likely be engaging, connective, and fun.”

The arts festival typically attracts about 80,000 people to the Nevada desert each year, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. It also brings in about $60 million each year, according to the news outlet.

The festival, which would’ve happened in August, features “eclectic costumes, art installations and musical performances,” according to CNN.

This is the first time the festival has ever been canceled, the Gazette Journal reported.

People who purchased tickets will receive refunds, organizers said in the statement. But the Burning Man Project expects to see layoffs, pay reductions and other tight budgeting, according to the statement.

“We’re committed to providing refunds to those who need them,” organizers said. “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.”

Here’s how some people reacted to the news.

This story was originally published April 11, 2020 at 11:11 AM.