These 18 Massive Art Pieces Will Be at Burning Man This Year

It's a well-known fact that Burning Man began on San Francisco's Baker Beach in 1986 and despite the event moving to Nevada a few years later, the Bay Area has remained the creative heart of the event for decades. Every year, local artists spend months building monumental installations in homes, studios, and warehouses before transporting them to the Black Rock Desert. While Burning Man's 2026 theme, Axis Mundi, celebrates a connection between humanity and the natural world, the artwork on the playa often will extend far beyond the annual theme.

We wanted to build you a central place to learn about some of the Bay Area projects are headed to the playa or learn about the artists behind them. We partnered with Burning Man to compile 18 Bay Area art installations making the journey to Black Rock City in 2026, along with the artists and stories behind each remarkable piece.

Since many of the art pieces are in the process of being built, most of the images were provided to us by Burning Man as part of the artist’s official Burning Man art installation proposals. The finished products will be out on the Playa.

Created by Sean Orlando
@above_and_below_beanstalk

"Above & Below", a towering 40-foot interactive beanstalk installation with a house perched on top inspired by fairy tales, storytelling, and the world Sean Orlando hopes to build for his daughter.

Created by Mahshid Moghadasi, Aysan Jafarzadeh and a multi-disciplinary team
@as.above_so.within

Slow down and reflect on your connection to the universe with a fractal 3D-printed Mandelbulb sculpture made of UV-resistant ASA, sourced in part from recycled filament and will illuminate at night.

Created by Michael Ciulla & Walid Nasrala
@THETWILIGHTLANGUAGE

Rather than being on large objects as you often see on the playa, this art piece is unique because it brings many small pieces into one space at scale. Powered by the sun, Carnac 2026 is made of 1,000 2-foot tall sculptures. 

Created by Jen Reed
@compost_playground

Compost Playground is a commentary on food waste featuring an oversized climbable Apple Core Jungle Gym (approx 12-feet by 16-feet). This summer, they plan on introducing a giant teabag beanbag at 4-feet by 5-feet. 

Created by Jacob Hanshaw & Looking Up Arts
@lookinguparts

This interactive installation encourages vulnerability, forgiveness, and genuine human connection with a unique wooden Art Nouveau altar featuring 3 confessionals.

Created by Luke Lin (Auroborium)
@dobasketsdream

The piece is anchored by a 20 foot dock and light which ripples like waves across the desert floor. This piece is a surreal array of Vietnamese basket boats and glowing lanterns which create a peaceful space for anyone feeling a little lost.

Created by Michael Christian, Dallas Swindle & Auriah Jade
michaelchristian.com/portfolio/epod

Epod originally was made for Burning Man in 2014 and returns to the playa this year. It’s an impressive rotating steel sculpture that invites up to 80 participants to climb, spin, and play together.

Created by Studio Woo Woo
@studio_woo_woo

This beautiful illuminated monarch butterfly sculpture has an arch of glass butterflies which are soaring out of an outstretched hand. It speaks to migration, family and community.

Created by John H. Dill III & Team
@sliceofdill

Viewers are invited to stay curious, gain a new perspective by looking through this large wooden keyhole and walking through it. 

Created by Taylor Dean Harrison
@taylordeanharrison

Three towers made of steel (the largest of which is 15-feet tall) are a commentary on technology, nature, and the unknown. It’s maze-like configuration reflects the difficulties of navigating what comes next

Created by Franzi Ponzi & the Homo Erectors
@lookout_brc

This is a massive 48-foot lookout tower disguised as a fire extinguisher. Climbing to the top provides sweeping 360-degree views of Black Rock City. Its glass enclosed room at the top reminds me of the fire lookout towers perched on mountaintops throughout the West. The artists behind Lookout come from Oakland, Portland and Reno.

Created by LaynaJoy Rivas with Big Art Collective
@octopolisproject

One of the coolest parts about this stunning 20-foot octopus is that it will be repurposed and be put into the ocean to contribute to coral reef restoration efforts. It’s a beautiful interactive piece which celebrates ocean life. 

Mr and Mrs Ferguson
mr-and-mrs-ferguson.com

Built from more than 120,000 pennies, this monumental Canada goose explores shared borders and everyday treasures. Originally created for Burning Man in 2015, the sculpture has been lovingly restored for its return to the playa in 2026. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson's intricate penny sculptures have become some of the most recognizable and awe-inspiring works at Burning Man, with thousands of copper coins shimmering brilliantly in the desert sunlight.

Created by Kim Carson
@portalofcollectiveimagination

This interactive art installation invites participants to contribute their own sounds, creating an ever-evolving tapestry of voices and ambient audio. Using light and projection the portal transforms each interaction into a dynamic experience where the visitor is an active collaborator to the experience around them.

Created by Star Buds
@silentstar.space

We live in a world right now where we rarely find ourselves in true silence. For this 17-foot lotus, silence unlocks an array of light within the walls of the art and showcases a galaxy of stars within.

Created by Caleb Nederhood & The Seven Sisters Crew
7sisters.art
Seven illuminated 30-foot 3-D stars recreate the famous constellation while sharing the stories different cultures have told about it for centuries.

Created by Moonlight Collective & the Temple Build Crew (Lead Artist: James Gwertzman)
@2026temple

Aside from They Man itself, The Temple is the second most important structure at Burning Man. It’s where people say goodbye to a loved one, say prayers for the year ahead, or find solace about something important to them in their lives. It’s a place each year where attendees can honor life's fleeting moments. On the final night of the event, after The Man has burned, the Temple is set aflame in a quiet, ceremonial burn—a symbolic act that transforms the prayers, messages, and memories left inside into smoke carried across the playa. This year’s temple is inspired by the desert flower Queen of the Night which blooms on just one evening a year. 

Created by Titanic's End
@titanicsend

The Titanic sinks again at Burning Man this year with a v-shaped amphitheater. Two halves of the Titanic emerge from the playa, creating a dramatic gathering space that explores ambition and recklessness. Visitors can step inside and explore the wreck, with an exterior constructed entirely from recycled materials.

Note: This list does not encompass all of the local artists making art for Black Rock City this year. You can view a full list of art headed to Burning Man on their website. It’s a list full of inspiring art that is being made right here in The Bay.

Images were provided to us by Burning Man as part of the artist’s official Burning Man art installation proposals. To be considered for placement on the playa, artists submit detailed proposals that include concept renderings or photographs, construction plans, placement and infrastructure requirements, installation logistics, and an artist statement.