6 Celebrities Who Have Revealed What It's Like to Attend Burning Man

Many celebs have become Burning Man regulars since the festival’s inception in 1986

Mad Max desolation and Hollywood glam meet in the Nevada desert every September during Burning Man — and even the industry’s most famous don’t pass up the annual opportunity to torch the giant wicker man.

A weeklong festival of music, meditation and art, Black Rock City becomes host to legions of attendees looking to go off grid, find inspiration and get lost to be found at one of the most famous festivals in history.

While supermodels and CEOs flock to the desert to partake in the otherworldly carnival, many major names in music and movies have also attended the party over the years.

Though many attendees keep their Burning Man experiences private, several celebs have shared photos and brief tidbits about their time at Black Rock.

On June 9, HBO premiered The Man Will Burn, which recounts the festival's history, from its San Francisco beginnings to its current popularity.

Here is everything to know about the celebrities who have attended Burning Man, including those considered regulars for their annual appearances.

01 of 06

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon is a regular Burner, and she even received an exclusive invitation to flock to the desert before the official festivities began in 2015.

Reflecting on the unique opportunity during an interview with The Daily Beast, the actress shared, “I’d never gone in before everybody came, because they only allow a certain amount of people to build, so it was fun to tootle around when it was pretty empty.”

As enjoyable as it was to experience Burning Man in a different way, Sarandon said the extended time in the desert was rough on her body. “[Eleven] days in a tent is way too long,” she said, explaining, “I ingested half the playa into my lungs.”

02 of 06

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton was a Burning Man loyalist in the 2010s, attending four years in a row until the COVID-19 pandemic ended her streak in 2020. The entertainment multi-hyphenate documented many of her annual trips to Black Rock in photos on Instagram, and she even DJed during Burning Man in 2017.

During a conversation with The Cut, Hilton claimed festival-goers thought her set was the best of any DJ’s that year.

“It was supposed to be a one-hour set and it turned into four hours because it was so sick,” she said. “They said that out of every DJ who played on the stage, nobody rocked it like I did.

Hilton returned to the festival in 2022, writing, “Honey, I’m home,” on Facebook.

03 of 06

Scott Eastwood

In 2016, Scott Eastwood posted about attending Burning Man with Cara Delevingne.

“Look at this little gem I found in the Burn 🔥. @caradelevingne I had an amazing time there. I recommend it to anyone who wants a life changing cultural expierence that will expand your mind,” he wrote on Instagram.

Years later, in 2024, he returned to the festival, writing, “Haven’t been back in 7 years…… wow. Some lessons learned, memories created and moments captured. ✌️ out. 🔥 man.”

04 of 06

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford attended her first Burn with her daughter, Kaia Gerber, in 2022.

She wrote about the experience on Instagram alongside photos from the excursion, sharing it exceeded her expectations and allowed her to reach her version of enlightenment.

“It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more,” the supermodel wrote. “The surreal ruggedness and inspiring beauty of the playa enabled me to reconnect to my maiden self—adventurous, fun, curious and carefree.”

05 of 06

Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss has attended Burning Man several times with her husband Josh Kushner — billionaire Thrive Capital founder and brother of Jared Kushner.

Like Hilton, the model has never said much about her time at Black Rock, but has also never been shy about sharing photos from the event on her Instagram.

Kloss was last at Burning Man in 2023, when the event was derailed by heavy rains that turned the desert basin into an unnavigable mess of mud that left attendees stranded for several days.

06 of 06

Sophia Bush

Sophia Bush attended Burning Man in 2015 with several friends. After her week amongst the fire and sand, the One Tree Hill alum reflected on the way the festival fueled her passion for women’s empowerment.

“Goddesses are real. I know because I am friends with a few,” Bush wrote on Instagram. “forever grateful for my tribe of witchy warrior women who dance in the desert and leave trails of magic wherever they wander.”

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