After destruction, Burning Man's Orgy Dome is back in 2026 with a new rule

Last year’s vicious windstorm at Burning Man caused damage to countless camps, but one in particular made headlines: the Orgy Dome. One of Burning Man’s most notable camps, the Orgy Dome serves anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 attendees per year, offering a safe consensual space to explore sexuality. But after 50 mph winds ravaged the playa in 2025, the dome’s infrastructure was heavily damaged, with tarps torn and metal poles bent. At the time, organizers estimated the damage cost them between $20,000 and $30,000.

The seven-person board of directors went to work after Burning Man ended, trying to find a replacement for the damaged 4,000-square-foot structure. The board found most of its options to be wildly expensive, like a 50-foot dome that cost $60,000. The organization behind the dome, And Then There’s Only Love, runs a lean operation that leaves little in the bank after the event. The solution was a series of GoFundMe campaigns, which in total raised close to $70,000, including two $10,000 donations from Redditors. The total operating cost of the camp is over $100,000 a year; the organization makes up the gap in funding with camp dues from over 100 volunteers. 

Over 10% of all Burning Man attendees make their way through the Orgy Dome over the course of the week (it’s open until 4 a.m. most nights), but for those who haven’t been, here’s how it works: Attendees queue up outside the tents and then go through an ID check to ensure the space is 18 and over. Next, there’s a consent seminar, laying out the organization’s specific framework (consent must be freely given, informed, enthusiastic and specific, and it is reversible). No single individuals are allowed in, only groups. 

There are two main areas: a 36-foot circus tent dubbed the “just us” area, intended for couples (or throuples, etc.) who aren’t interested in “playing” with strangers, and the 50-foot “open to more” area where anything goes (with consent of course). The orgy areas are filled with over 50 mattresses covered in sheets, which are changed regularly (in a new rule change this year, bringing your own sheets will no longer let you cut the line). The staff also supplies condoms (the organizers received a donation of 15,000 this year), lube and swag like commemorative towels. The staff plays music in the space, but it doesn’t enlist DJs, citing a need for more control over the volume and type of music. This year, the organizers have newly partnered with neighboring Spanky’s Wine Bar, offering guests a place to drink and dance before or after partaking in the festivities.

But be warned: Given the dome’s absence last year, the organizers anticipate demand to be higher than ever, so expect long lines. The silver lining? You might just meet some new friends who are “open to more.”