Since 2014, the Burning Man European Leadership Summit has brought together do-ers, dreamers, Regional Contacts, Regional Event organizers, artists and community builders from across the globe to this rare and beloved moment to meet each other – live and in person! It’s an invaluable opportunity to build and deepen relationships, learn from one another, spark ideas and co-create magic together.
2026 Theme: The Art of Becoming
Art is, at its core, transformation. As a culture of creative alchemy, Burning Man embraces and offers the potential for transformation. As community organizers and changemakers, we inspire positive social transformation, human connection, and a reimagination of society.
After 40 years of Burning Man culture embracing change as creative practice, this ELS’s theme “The Art of Becoming” invites you to ask: Where do we want to go from here? How can we amplify our impact through collective becoming?
Participation-First Approach
The ELS is practicing the art of becoming itself. This year, we are seeking to evolve the ELS into its most participatory iteration yet, a laboratory for collective transformation, where European leaders actively participate in reimagining what the Burning Man network can become.
As you consider offering something, ask yourself: How can this session be shaped by the people who participate in it? What are the pathways for engagement that I would like to offer?
Who Can Contribute?
Anyone passionate about Burning Man culture and community building is invited to share at the ELS. Whether you’re a first-time participant or a seasoned Regional Contact, an artist, a volunteer coordinator, or someone with lessons learned from your local burn, your experience matters and your voice belongs here.
The ELS is a co-created gathering in the true spirit of Burning Man. Contributors share their knowledge as an act of communal effort and gifting, not as paid speakers or performers. There are no speaker fees, and presenting does not include complimentary registration, travel, or accommodation.
Content Tracks: Four Journeys of Becoming
Personal Becoming: The Art of Leadership
Individual leadership and skills development
Building capacity as community leaders: facilitation skills, burnout prevention, role transitions, accountability practices, storytelling, personal boundaries, self-care strategies, communication skills, leadership styles, and more.
Local Becoming: The Art of Community
Regional events and community building
Strengthening regional burns and local community: volunteer systems, conflict resolution, inclusion practices, governance models, crisis communication, succession planning, event production, safety protocols, year-round engagement, governance and organizational development, and more.
Network Becoming: The Art of Collaboration
Communal effort across the global Burning Man community
Connecting and learning across regions: communication systems, tech tools, knowledge sharing, cross-community projects, cultural adaptation of principles, network standards, resource sharing, policy creation, and more.
Societal Becoming: The Art of Impact
Burning Man culture’s impact on the wider world
Engaging beyond our community: civic partnerships, public art projects, land stewardship, sustainability practices, policy advocacy, cultural movements, social innovation, and more.
Topics & Selection Criteria
Regional Network leaders identified these key challenges that could inspire your session topics. Any topic is welcome, so feel free to propose anything including or beyond the following list:
- Leadership/Board Development: Leadership techniques, governance, & preventing burnout
- Civic Projects: Executing projects for civic good in local communities
- Acculturation & 10 Principles: How to support new Burners entering the culture
- Team Recruitment & Retention: Keeping communities engaged
- Succession Planning: Handing off leadership roles
- Conflict Resolution: Managing tensions and fostering collaboration
- Staffing: Retaining volunteers in key leadership roles/Burnout
- Venues: Rising costs, finding suitable ones
- Insurance: High cost, fewer providers
This year’s ELS emphasizes participation above all – every session should engage attendees as active contributors, not passive listeners. Beyond interactivity, selection priorities include:
Fresh Voices & Perspectives: We especially welcome case studies and experiences from communities that haven’t presented at previous ELS gatherings. Your regional story matters, regardless of your burn’s size or how long you’ve been organizing.
Community-Identified Needs: Sessions addressing challenges highlighted in the State of the Regional Network report – particularly volunteer systems, conflict resolution, succession planning, governance, and sustainability – directly serve what our community is asking for.
Thematic Alignment: Contributions that explore “The Art of Becoming” and transformation as creative practice help weave the gathering into a cohesive experience.
Practical Takeaways: The best sessions leave participants with skills, frameworks, or tools they can immediately apply in their communities – not just inspiration, but implementation.
Diverse Formats: Whether you’re facilitating a hands-on workshop, hosting a deep conversation, creating immersive art, or designing evening magic, we’re looking for variety in how knowledge and connection are shared.
Co-Creation Opportunities
1. Interactive Sessions (45-75 min sessions)
Want to facilitate a session? This is your chance to bring your magic! Create a participatory experience that gets people engaged. You can design whatever works for your content, including (but not limited to):
- Skill-Building Workshops: Practice new tools together through scenarios and simulations
- Co-creative Panels: Fishbowl discussions where audience becomes co-creators
- Storytelling Circles: Share experiences that inspire action
- Creative Demonstrations: Show your work through doing, not just telling
- World Café Sessions: Rotate through themed conversations
- Presentations with Q&A: Share your knowledge and invite curiosity
- More… what can you dream up?
2. Deep Dive Working Sessions (4-8 hours across 2-3 days)
New for 2026: We will undertake collaborative problem-solving that goes beyond traditional conference sessions. Small groups will work intensively on complex topics; think hackathon meets design thinking meets community organizing.
Instead of just talking, you’ll roll up your sleeves with peers facing similar challenges and dreaming similar dreams, to emerge with prototypes, frameworks, implementation plans, and ongoing collaborations. These sessions are designed for the messy, multi-layered issues that require collective intelligence and sustained focus.
Please indicate your interest in stewarding a Deep Dive session on your registration form.
3. Play & Connection Experiences (up to 75 minutes)
Want to facilitate connection and fun? Help blur the lines between learning and celebration by hosting:
- Mind & Movement Labs: Lead circus arts, yoga, dance sessions, or more in the on-site movement spaces
- Creative Workshops: Offer collaborative art creation that gets hands dirty (including utilizing the venue’s community street art space!)
- Connection Catalysts: Design a speed friending event, create gathering points for people with similar roles in the Burning Man ecosystem, host skill exchanges
- More… what can you dream up?
4. Evening Magic (flexible length)
This is Burning Man, after all – help make our evening gatherings as transformative as the daytime sessions! Consider hosting:
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- Dine-around conversations to break bread with others who share your interests
- Themed environments that invite exploration and discovery
- Interactive performances that creates magic for everyone
- Music and dance that gets people moving together
- Cultural exchanges featuring food, stories, and traditions from your region
- Social experiments or games that bring people together in new ways
- More… what can you dream up?
5. Installation Art
Want to create something that transforms our gathering spaces? Bring installations that inspire, provoke, or invite exploration. Whether it’s a contemplative sculpture, interactive environment, visual statement, or collaborative art piece, help make the physical space as transformative as the conversations happening within it.
6. Other
Got something to contribute that you aren’t sure where it fits? This is Burning Man, the sky’s the limit! What would you like to contribute?
Support for Session Design
Not sure how to facilitate a truly participatory session? If your session is scheduled, the facilitation support team will be available to help.
Preview session questions here: Web version – for quick reference| Google Document – to copy and draft your answers
Ready to Co-Create?
Submit your session idea here by 15 December 2025. Multiple entries are welcome—please complete one form per idea. We’re excited to review your proposal and will reach out by 2 February 2026. See you in Nijmegen!