The Man Will Burn
2026– · HBO · 60 min · 1 season
S01E04 · Mud Burn
Fri, 31 July, 11:00 am
Burning Man is threatened by days of rain and chaos. Many attendees flee the muddy terrain as the government steps in to ensure attendees stay safe.
About
Since its beginning in 1986, Burning Man has grown from its anarchic counterculture roots in San Francisco to a globally recognized spectacle. Each year, 80,000 self-styled "Burners" congregate in the Nevada desert to create music, art, and connection, raise temples, join a spiritual movement centered on community, and take part in a modern American cultural experiment. Following the organization through several years of unprecedented turmoil, The Man Will Burn follows a movement pushed to its limits as it strives to stay operational while staying true to its core values.
Episodes
- E01
The Great Unknown
Fri, 10 July· 60 minBurning Man grows from an anti-establishment group in San Francisco, founded by Larry Harvey in the 1980s, to a multi-million-dollar event with thousands of attendees and the backing of billionaire tech donors. First time "Burners" look forward to the experience, while repeat attendees and organizers prep for the unpredictable as COVID-19 threatens the event.
- E02
Welcome To the Shit Show
Fri, 17 July· 60 minBurning Man is canceled for the second year in a row. A renegade group of "Burners" hold their own event in the desert, and, to many, the Renegade Burn feels like a return to the event's origins, and exposes complex dynamics within the leadership.
- E03
Waking Dreams
Fri, 24 July· 60 minBurning Man is back in full force with the musicians, singers, and artists that create and run the spectacular art installations. A growing unease resurges among the creatives who fear that the advent of social media influencers and the influx of tech money threaten the original philosophy of the Burning Man community spirit.
- E04
Mud Burn
Fri, 31 July· 60 minBurning Man is threatened by days of rain and chaos. Many attendees flee the muddy terrain as the government steps in to ensure attendees stay safe.
