Lights, art and trance: What draws tens of thousands of Israelis to "Midburn"?

The Midburn 2026 festival returned to the desert with about 10,000 participants, lights, art and trance music. Participants described an intense experience of community creation, after years of cancellations due to wars and the coronavirus.

The Midburn 2026 festival, the Israeli version of Burning Man, returned to the desert after years of wars, coronavirus and repeated cancellations. About 10,000 revelers flocked to a huge compound built by the community's own labor, featuring glowing lights, giant art installations and trance music. Participant Doron Atlas described the experience as "crazy" in his first year. Kenny Salman spoke about the scale of investment: "They take some huge piece of land, put on amazing displays... and when Midburn is over, these people will already start planning the next Midburn." The festival lasts six days, after which the entire compound is dismantled and the desert returns to its natural state.