Leadership Development

Explore the world of Burning Man leadership development events, where creativity and collaboration come to life. Regional Contacts and community leaders from around the globe gather throughout the year for knowledge sharing, co-learning, and networking through the following exciting events:

  • Burning Man Regional Network Forum – (2021 and 2022) These globally inclusive online forums inspired engagement in Burning Man culture beyond Black Rock City and strengthened cultural connections between regional communities.   Explore past sessions, including videos of plenaries and breakouts.
  • Global Leadership Conference (GLC) – (2007 – 2017) Held in the San Francisco Bay Area, the GLC was Burning Man’s premier educational event. Discover the keynotes and presentations that have shaped our global community by exploring past videos.
  • European Leadership Summit (ELS) – Organized by Burning Man Project and local Burner host communities in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Stockholm, Nantes, Arhaus, and Tallinn, each summit fosters creativity and cultural exchange across the continent.
  • Southeastern Leadership Roundtable – Burners nurture collaboration and community growth in this southeastern U.S. regional roundtable in host cities of Asheville, Charlotte, Smyrna, Richmond, and Knoxville.
  • Multi-Regional Summit – Connect with leaders from Northern California and Nevada at a centrally located campground. This summit strengthens ties and shares knowledge among participants from these regions.
  • Mid-Atlantic Leadership Conference – Since 2016, Washington, DC, and Baltimore have hosted this biannual summit, bringing together Burners from the Mid-Atlantic region to explore innovative ideas and strategies.
  • Australia/New Zealand Leadership Summit – Melbourne has hosted this summit since 2017, connecting leaders from across Australia and New Zealand.
  • Rocky Mountain Burning Arts Summit – The Boulder Burner community hosted its first summit in 2018.
  • Jozi Burner Summit – Johannesburg welcomed this summit in 2017, highlighting the unique contributions and energy of the African Burner community.

Many sessions highlight the natural link between teaching and learning by focusing on peer-to-peer sharing. Groups present their projects and experiences, showcasing both their successes and challenges. This approach helps others learn from these examples and improve their own community efforts.

Participation is often by invitation only, but selected sessions are occasionally available to the public via webcast or on-demand video.