[photos] Burning Man, a retrospective in pictures

As a nod to this year's theme, "Burning Man 2025: Tomorrow Today," we will explore its traditions through our exclusive GayCities photographs.

Mark Mark
Sep 5, 2025 - 20:00
0 79
[photos] Burning Man, a retrospective in pictures
Adult film star MIlo Miles and his GlamBro Bam Bam celebrating the sunrise at Mayan Warrior.
Milo Miles and his Burn-Bro Bam Bam are celebrating the sunrise at Mayan Warrior. | Mike Ciriaco

Like a dust-plumed Phoenix, Burning Man has once again risen from the Black Rock Desert.

For those unfamiliar with this annual sociocultural tradition, every August, approximately 70,000 “Burners” flock to the barren Nevada desert to erect a temporary, week-long city replete with radical art, fashion, and a diverse range of sexual expressions.

Then, this sweat-soaked Brigadoon evaporates back into ether until next summer. As a nod to this year’s theme, “Burning Man 2025: Tomorrow Today,” we will explore its myriad traditions through our exclusive GayCities photographs, from its euphoric highs to its muddy lows, and every dust-stained crevasse in between.

Before we dive into the sunshine and psychedelic side of the Burn, let’s get the ugliness out of the way. Cover of this year’s event was dominated by a possible homicide on Saturday night, coinciding with the traditional igniting of the festival’s eponymous effigy, aka “The Man.” This was one of at least ten occurring in Black Rock City, the temporary city created to house The Burn every year.

Related

How the gays lead Burning Man 2025 out of the mud and into a beautiful allegory for life
This year’s Burning Man was a mix of struggle and triumph, an allegory for life with a bright neon silver lining at the end of the clouds.

How the gays lead Burning Man 2025 out of the mud and into a beautiful allegory for life
This year’s Burning Man was a mix of struggle and triumph, an allegory for life with a bright neon silver lining at the end of the clouds.

Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

At the opposite end of the mortality spectrum, a woman who alleged she had no idea she was 36 weeks pregnant gave birth on the bathroom floor of her RV.

Even before the Burn kicked off, during “The Build” (the colloquial term for the weekend before, when structures are erected), a storm struck, demolishing the iconic O Dome. Inclement weather is nothing new to Burning Man. Most notable was the 2022 Burn, which suffered a major weekend-long deluge, earning nicknames such as Mudpocalypse and Pottery Burn.

DC-based Burner Patrick Kim scrapping Playa mud from his boots
DC-based Burner Patrick “Northstar” Kim is scraping Playa mud from his boots during the 2023 Mudpocalypse | Mike Ciriaco
A little nuisance like a deluge doesn't keep Burners from their bacchanalia. The Glamcocks, a prominent queer Burning Man tribe, simply relocated their annual speedo party into the back of a cargo truck.
A little nuisance like a deluge doesn’t keep Burners from their bacchanalia. The Glamcocks, a prominent queer Burning Man tribe, simply relocated their annual speedo party into the back of a cargo truck. | Mike Ciriaco
Like a postdiluvian Emma Frost, Doctor pairs fur with panties for his after-flood ensemble. "I put the "fem" in FEMA," he quipped.
Like a postdiluvian Emma Frost, the gay Burner known as “Doctor” pairs fur with panties for his after-flood ensemble. “I put the ‘fem’ in FEMA,” he quipped. | Mike Ciriaco
Veteran Burner Dusty serving double the rainbow, double the fun after this year’s Playa downpour
Veteran Burner Dusty serving double the rainbow, double the fun after this 2023 downpour | Mike Ciriaco

The literal centerpiece of Burning Man is its titanic titular effigy, who is set aflame at the end of the week to signal the end of the festivities. Each incarnation of The Man is intended to reflect the year’s theme.

The theme of 2023 was 'Animalila,' reflected in the honeycomb designs incorporated in its Man.
The theme of 2023 was ‘Animalila,’ reflected in the honeycomb designs incorporated in its Man. | Mike Ciriaco
New York-based Burner Catalyst strikes a pose in front of "The Man,"
New York-based Burner “Catalyst” strikes a pose in front of The Man in 2024. | Mike Ciriaco

As with most cities, Burning Man boasts its own gayborhood, which hosts a slew of homocentric events. One of the most prominent is Tightywhities Tuesday, a celebration of skivvies hosted by Camp FruitPOP.

A trio of FruitPOP boys at the inaugural Tightwhities Tuesday party in 2022.
A trio of FruitPOP boys at the inaugural Tightwhities Tuesday party in 2022. | Mike Ciriaco
Dusty and his sloth sidekick wearing matching undies at the Animalia iteration of Tighty Whities Tuesday.
Dusty and his sloth sidekick wearing matching undies at the 2023 Animalia iteration of Tightywhities Tuesday. | Mike Ciriaco
Milo Miles making this Kappa Omega Kappa pledge squeal, "Thank you, sir, may I have another!"
Milo Miles making this Kappa Omega Kappa pledge squeal, “Thank you, sir, may I have another!” | Mike Ciriaco

Another popular destination in the gayborhood is Camp Gymnasium, which venerates the ancient Greek tradition of athletics. The most prominent attraction is their Naked Oil Wrestling competition, where competitors grease up and engage in a physical altercation.

Queer Burners competing in a Naked Oil Wrestling competition at Burning Man 2024.
Two Burners are competing in a Naked Oil Wrestling competition at Burning Man 2024. | Mike Ciriaco

One of the principles of Burning Man is “Radical Self Expression,” which is vividly displayed through its outré sartorial choices.

Jordan embracing the surreal 2022 theme of Waking Dreams as a literal fairy.
Jordan is embracing the surreal 2022 theme of Waking Dreams as a literal fairy. | Mike Ciriaco
Kostume Kult is Black Rock City's iconic thrift shop. Anyone can take whatever they want, the only caveat is they have have to hit the runway that serves as the tent's exit and walk for their lewk.
Kostume Kult is Black Rock City’s iconic thrift shop. Anyone can take whatever they want; the only caveat is that they must exit through the runway that serves as the tent’s exit and walk out. | Mike Ciriaco
Queer pop star Kameron trying on a gender bending Burning Man ensemble.
Queer pop star Kameron is trying on a gender bending Burning Man ensemble. | Mike Ciriaco
Vancuover-based Glamcock Nikolai flaunting his post-apocalyptic pussycat ensemble at the 2022 Animalia Burn.
Vancuover-based Glamcock Nikolai flaunting his post-apocalyptic pussycat ensemble at the 2022 Animalia Burn. | Mike CIriaco
A lumbersexual loincloth daddy.
A lumbersexual loincloth daddy. | Mike Ciriaco

As with all good things, Burning Man is fated to end by Sunday, climaxing with its famous Man Burn on Saturday evening. Fortunately, like a Phoenix, Burning Man needs to be consumed in flames so that it can be reborn anew next year.

Young Matty finishing the week by popping his Man Burn cherry.
Neophyte Burner “Young Matty” finishing the 2024 Burn by popping his Man Burn cherry. | Mike Ciriaco

Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.

Read More