Sometimes the party aspect of burner culture can overshadow the really cool strengths and skill sets that we are all coming together to celebrate in the first place. A few communities have found ways to offset the general public’s fixation on the burner party culture by creating community events that highlight all of the other super cool aspects of burners and burner culture in an open-to-the-public setting. Let’s take a look at one of them, examine the goals and principles behind the event, and brainstorm other formats that these goals and principles might take. How can we inspire more radically inclusive pop-up burner events in more places?

This session is an invitation for regional event organizers, sustainability leads, and anyone passionate about making their gatherings more environmentally sustainable. Together, we’ll explore how regional events are approaching sustainability, from reducing waste and emissions to fostering local partnerships, renewable energy use, and Leave No Trace practices.

The session’s goals are twofold:
1. To cultivate a connected network of leaders who are driving sustainability at their regional events.
2. To create space for shared learning, where participants can both teach and discover practical solutions that are working in different regions and contexts.

Whether your event is just starting to think about sustainability or already has years of experience, this conversation is for you. Bring your stories, challenges, and ideas as we build collective momentum towards sustainable and regenerative regional events.

If you’d like to collaborate on this session, feel free to email stephen.chun@burningman.org

The insurance market for our Burn events has taken another turn and it keeps getting tighter. I’m sure you have encountered the daunting task of finding a policy that will insure your Burn and provide any real coverage. It’s certainly not easy, like finding a needle in a haystack. Let’s be real – this insurance crap is as fun as watching paint dry. I feel you and want to make this part of running your org and event as painless as possible.

Many of you already know me (Courtney Weidner aka Deere Bringer) or Rick Diaz, the other burner agent that has been helping our orgs secure event liability coverage for our Burns. In this breakout, we will be discussing the top challenges for our orgs in securing coverage for our events, what makes them undesirable for insurance companies and what we can do about it.

We will also touch on the annual general liability, directors & officers’ liability and accident insurance our orgs need for volunteers, what it’s good for, etc.

If you’ve been tasked with finding the best coverage available for your organization, come be part of this discussion and get the info you need to be protected in 2026.

Over the past two years, SOAK Oregon’s Regional Burning Man event has taken steps toward deeper inclusion and accessibility inspired by Radical Inclusion. This session will explore how our event has grown accessibility programs like the SOAK Train, Radical Inclusion Ticket Program, and Subsidized Ticketing; each aiming to reduce barriers to participation and create a more equitable Burn.

We’ll share what’s worked, where we’ve stumbled, and how we’ve engaged departments across the event to reflect on their own diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. From practical site adaptations to legal considerations and community-centered design, you’ll hear takeaways from us around efforts to include first-timers, BIPOC participants, differently abled community members, and those with limited income.

We’ll also look ahead to SOAK’s next evolution: integrating accessibility efforts under a unified Radical Inclusion department. Join us for stories, strategies, and real-world lessons from the valley in Oregon.