Burning Man is an event held annually since 1986 in the western United States. Since 1991, the event has been located at Black Rock City, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada. The event is held approximately 100 miles (160 km) north-northeast of Reno. As outlined by Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey in 2004, the event is guided by these ten principles: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy. The event derives its name from its culmination, the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as "The Man," that occurs on the Saturday evening before Labor Day.

The event originated on June 22, 1986, on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, the builders of the first "Man" effigy. It has since been held annually, spanning the nine days leading up to and including Labor Day. Over the event's history, attendance has steadily increased. In 2019, 78,850 people participated in the event.

NPR said about Burning Man, "Once considered an underground gathering for bohemians and free spirits of all stripes, Burning Man has since evolved into a destination for social media influencers, celebrities and the Silicon Valley elite." At Burning Man, the participants are supposed to design and build all the art, activities, and events. Artwork at Burning Man includes experimental and interactive sculptures, buildings, performances and art cars, among other media. These contributions are inspired by a theme that is chosen annually by the Burning Man Project. An anonymous attendee once elaborated that "Burning Man is about 'why not' overwhelming 'why'". Participation is a key precept for the community, so there is much controversy in the community over the problem of non-participatory influencers and elite at the event.Burning Man is organized by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organization that, in 2013, succeeded Black Rock City LLC, a for-profit limited liability company. Black Rock City LLC was formed in 1999 to represent the event's organizers, and is now considered a subsidiary of the non-profit organization. The Burning Man Project endorses multiple smaller regional events guided by the Burning Man principles, both in the United States and internationally. The organization provides the essential infrastructure of Black Rock City and works year-round to bring Burning Man culture to the world through programs such as Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Solar, and Global Arts Grants.