All you need to know about Burning Man Festival events in Europe

Yes, you saw it right: there’s a bunch of Burning Man festivals every year in some of the biggest European cities, that keep the vibe and tradition of the big old ‘Burn’ from Black Rock City.

So if you missed the original gathering in the desert of California - USA, or you were simply not prepared to cross the ocean for this massive artsy-party gathering, don’t worry: you can catch up with it somewhere nearby!

In Europe it’s called the regional Burning Man events or Burns and have the mission to facilitate and extend the culture that has issued from the Burning Man event into a larger world.

Actually, there are Burning Man festivals all over five continents, including Africa and Middle East, in Israel. It all includes the same community of festival goers, celebrating music, art, beauty of self-expression and life in general.

Did you know there are 8 countries in Europe where the regional Burning Man Festival is held? 

But for starters, meaning those who didn’t know much about this super-famous festival, Burning Man is more than you expect besides the festival atmosphere: it’s a way of living, sharing and partying with other fellow dreamers and doers.

Burning Man isn't your usual festival. It's a vibrant participatory metropolis generated by its citizens. 

Once a year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. In this crucible of creativity, all are welcome.

To get a sense of the richness and dynamism of the Burning Man experience as a way of life, explore their interactive story collection.

Top 8 Places to find Burning Man in Europe

So, are you ready for a trip around the burners community in Europe. Here we go:

1. BURNING MAN NETHERLANDS

These awesome people are having events all-year-long and you can involve in any of them. Just check out the ‘’ Newbies aka. Virgins’’ section if you’re a first timer at burn events.

The dutch decompression event 2014 [VIDEO]:

It is not uncommon for Burning Man participants to experience “post-burn blues”, and decompression events can help alleviate the feelings of loneliness and separation that can occur. The events provide an opportunity to participants to share feelings, art, performances and memories. As awareness of Burning Man has spread around the world, Decompression events have evolved to welcome newcomers to Burner culture.

2. MINDBURN, the Austrian Burner Week

Held between 2^nd to 7^th of August, the Austrian Burn Festival happens inside a zone called The Crater, near the forest of Styria.

Mindburn is a colorful Festival filled of Music, Art, Performances, Workshops, Games and Discussion. BUT don’t expect anything, because everyone will experience Mindburn in a different way. To truly understand this event, one must participate.

There are no tickets and everything is for free, as long as you also contribute with something to the Mindburn Community. The idea behind it is, just as in the Nevada Burning Man, DO IT YOURSELF!

3. NEST, Wales, UK 

Nest is located in the Goytre Valley, Wales. Part of the magic at Nest is there are no visitors, no spectators, only participants. The content of the events are determined by the participants who create it. Therefore, all are invited who wish to participate. Find everything about memberships and price contribution here.

There are decompression events going on in London as well, throughout the year.

4. NOWHERE, Spain

Surrounded by rocky mountains in the scorched Spanish wilderness, Nowhere is the culmination of the music, languages, art, outfits, workshops, words, parties and people of a diverse, international community.

As the main European Burn event, Nowhere embraces and celebrates all aspects of Burning Man in the extreme conditions and harsh beauty of northern Spain. However, unlike Burning Man, Nowhere doesn’t include fire as a key feature of the event as open fires are strictly forbidden by the municipality of the area. This is because every summer many areas of Spain, including the Nowhere area, are on wildfire alert.

Described as a ‘festival’, an ‘arts event’ and ‘a Burning Man regional’, Nowhere is based on 10 core principles which are based around the core principles of Burning Man.

The tickets go on sale soon, in January 2017, and you can find more info about it and how it works here.

    5. Scandinavian BORDERLAND – Denmark and Sweden

The Boderland is one of the most popular Burning Man inspired events in Northern Europe, and the landscapes chosen by the organizing community are stunning. Both Sweden and Danish locations are placed near wild Nordic natural and idyllic places.

The art projects and music stages are also really awesome. Last year in Sweden it was possible to walk in the giant Mushroom Space Forest, lighted by LED’s and 6 meters in height, paint with your body or listen to the Dream Radio.

6. Burning Baer – Berlin, Germany

It’s as much a clubbing experience and a community of burners reconnection, held in some of the thousands Berlin clubs and filled with amazing music and partying all night long.

7. French Burners – Paris, France

The French events usually involve raves and jugglers, a very new-circus like atmosphere, amongst others. But the Burn vibe is there, and the principle of radical inclusion and happily lived present moments is always in action.

Final question is, is it worth to experience the regional burns without being first to the original Burning Man? Our answer is YES, mostly because it’s a fresh start if you’ve never attended this type of music and arts events. Consider it a training and follow your fellow burner people’s advices. In the end, there will be some unforgettable experience there for you.

As for the already established burners? Well, who wouldn’t like to have more events like that and live inside the storytelling of one of the most appreciated manifestations of the whole festival scene around the world.