Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions?
We have answers!

General Information

  • SOAK is a Regional Burning Man event. Burning Man is a thriving worldwide community of artists, makers, and community organizers, guided by the10 principles which happening all over the globe.

  • The art theme for 2026 is Not to Scale.

  • The Temple is a place of reflection, contemplation, connection, remembrance, and release.

    The Temple of Unfolding is inspired by the myth and belief that folding a 1000 paper cranes grants the folder a wish and renewal. 

    This year we invite the community to fold in with us, and build a Temple to be filled with the wishes, release, intention, and 1000s of cranes from all our participants.

    The Temple is open to memorials and offerings throughout the event. Offerings can be written messages on the walls of the installation, or may be items left to display and burn. Items should be clean-burning; please limit the amount of plastics, heavy paint, cloth, plywood, and paper offerings. No human or animal remains in any form.

    The Temple is open through the event until Sunday at 4pm when the safety perimeter is erected in preparation for the burn.

    • Radical Inclusion

    • Gifting

    • Decommodification

    • Radical Self-Reliance

    • Radical Self-Expression

    • Communal Effort

    • Civic Responsibility

    • Leave No Trace

    • Participation

    • Immediacy

    • Radical Consent

  • SOAK’s version of Black Rock City’s the Man )*( the MBS is open for play Thursday night through Saturday. Create stories and memories… play in it, on it and around it with your community. It’ll lure you in at night with enticing lights.


    The MBS burn on Saturday night kicks off a night of cathartic release, play and celebration – paired with the Temple, these ritual releases form the emotional core of the event. Let it go! Cheer, howl and make noise while the sculpture burns, then dance around the embers.

Tickets

  • You can learn more about all of ticket options through https://soakpdx.com/tickets.

  • Ticket Prices:

    • $236 DGS & General Sale Tickets

    • $118 Subsidized Tickets

    • $708 Patron

    • $15 Children 12 and Under

    • $15-236 Radical Inclusion (Sliding Scale)

    • $25 Parking Pass

    • $111 Camping Vehicle - All Sizes

      All Camping Vehicles including those inside of a Theme Camp require a CV Pass.

  • We strongly recommend that you only resell through Humanitix easy and protected resale option. As the official resale partner of SOAK*2026 you can be sure your tickets are authentic. With Humanitix resale, you should never pay more than cost price for your ticket and transactions through all accepted payment methods are safe and protected.

    https://events.humanitix.com/soak-2026-not-to-scale/us/resale?dateId=69792e89bae421461278643c

  • Please have your ticket QR Code printed or saved to your device for each person in the vehicle ready to present to gate team. Drive in the front gate during gate hours with your QR codes ready to show the gate team.

  • Yes. Starting in 2025, RV Passes are now “Camping Vehicle” (CV) Passes. If you wish to bring your RV/van/camper to SOAK you must purchase an RV Pass. An RV is considered any vehicle permanently modified for camping with a bed and sink. Camping in an unmodified passenger vehicle at SOAK is not allowed (ie, no mattresses in the back of pickup trucks, etc).

    Remember: space is tight and CV passes are limited.

  • Yes! We can work with both digital and printed tickets at the gate.
    However, you will want to make sure all tickets are in your name.
    If can't find your ticket or if there are issues scanning your barcode, we can look up tickets with a matching ID.

  • SOAK*2026 is Thursday, May 21st through Monday, May 25th.

    Wednesday, May 20: 8am - 11pm (Staff or Theme Camp Work Access Pass Required)
    Thursday, May 21: 8am - 11pm (Event open!)
    Friday, May 22: 9am - 10pm
    Saturday, May 23: 10am - 6pm (MBS Burn Night)
    Sunday, May 24: 10am - 6pm (Temple Burn Night. No greeters.)
    Monday, May 25: 8am - 3pm (Memorial Day. Gate closed to new entry. Exodus only)

    Large vehicles and vehicles with trailers cannot enter after 8pm.

  • Yes. Children are required to have a ticket to enter SOAK. The cost of their ticket is $15.

Services & Supplies

  • Yes! Ice is the only purchasable item allowed onsite through our Cubes Department. Bags are available for $5 cash, or $6 Venmo. Check your map once you arrive to find the Cube station.

  • No, all participants need to bring their own water. It is strongly encouraged to bring at least 2 gallons of water per day. Reminder any water on site is not safe for human consumption due to heavy agricultural run off and contamination. You are responsible for bringing everything you need to the event, and packing it all out (this includes trash and grey water).

  • No. We follow Burning Man’s “Leave No Trace” principle. This means that we:

    • Pack out everything we pack in (including trash)

    • Take everything home with you.

    • Pick up MOOP (Matter Out Of Place)

    • Leave things as good or better than you found them.

  • White Bird Rock Medicine provides compassionate, experienced, professional medical and crisis response throughout the event 24/7 for everything from a band-aid or earplugs to broken bodies and spirits! Maybe you had too much too fast? We follow a confidential, trauma informed, harm reduction model of care. Come see us or send for us. We do make house calls!

    We also have accommodations that we can assist you with! Check out our SOAK train which can help you get around the valley.

  • You are responsible for your actions. Respect your neighbors. Manage your sound. Resolve your own conflicts when possible. Rangers are available throughout the event or at Ranger HQ in Central Services. They are volunteers who help mediate and support a safe, smooth experience.

  • Item descriptioSOAK is a non-commercial event. There’s no advertising, sponsorships, or vending. Instead of buying and selling, participants contribute their time, creativity, and resources to create the experience together.

    SOAK is built on participation, gifting, and shared contribution.n

  • Wastewater can’t be dumped on the ground. we practice Leave No Trace to prevent environmental contamination of the land.

    Use grey water tanks for

    • Hand washing

    • Dishwashing

    • Any water that with chemicals

    Grey water tanks are located near porta-potties and some camps.

Shelter and Gear

  • Some folx join together as support or theme camps. You can locate your camp through the Dust App. For those who are not with a camp, you can find open camping listed in several areas on the map.

  • No

  • We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.

  • No. We follow Burning Man’s “Leave No Trace” principle. This means that we:

    • Pack out everything we pack in (including trash)

    • Take everything home with you.

    • Pick up MOOP (Matter Out Of Place)

    • Leave things as good or better than you found them.

  • Our Survival Guide is a great place to start. We always recommend bringing weather appropriate clothing and gear, as night temperatures can drop low. Bring layers and expect wide temperature swings: ~40°F mornings and nights, up to 90°F+ in the afternoon. Conditions vary with cold, sun, wind, rain, heat, and cloud cover. 

    A list of what to bring to SOAK:

    • Ticket

    • Photo ID

    • Shelter w/rain fly and stakes

    • Adequate food

    • Trash bah

    • Personal Lighting

    • Sun Protection

    • Weather appropriate clothing

    • Outdoor Footwear

    • Day Pack

    • Power

    • Hygienic Products

    • First Aid Supplies

    • Portable ashtrays if you smoke

    • An open mind and respectful attitude.

Participation

  • SOAK doesn’t have headliners. We are a participant-driven event, meaning the art, camps, interactivity, and overall experience are created by the people who gather. It’s what makes SOAK* just a little bit different than a festival. As a decommodified, volunteer-run event, the magic lives in what we build together.

  • SOAK is a non-commercial event. There’s no advertising, sponsorships, or vending. Instead of buying and selling, participants contribute their time, creativity, and resources to create the experience together.

    SOAK is built on participation, gifting, and shared contribution.

  • All fire manipulators and performers are reuired to fill out the fire performance form. Remember, this event takes place in high desert with winds that blow through the valley. Please take fire seriously. Learn more at soakpdx.com/fire-overview . Only manipulate fire if you have a solid safety plan in place.

  • SOAK is created by its participants, so there’s always something happening. You can:

    • Explore interactive art and installations

    • Join workshops, talks, and skill shares

    • Experience performances and music

    • Participate in games, rituals, and pop-up parades

    • Relax, connect, and be part of the community

    • Give the gift of giving

    Some of the best moments are often the ones you stumble into.


    Dust is the app based WWW that you can have download to help dishere) cover camps, events, and art. Download the Dust App!

    For those who would like your own print-at-home version of WWW

  • Self-expression is a core reason why people come year after year to SOAK. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice radical acceptance and body positivity.

    Nudity is allowed within the event where it is not visible from outside the site. Keep adult behavior in enclosed structures, clearly label those spaces, and actively prevent minors from entering. We always practice radical consent and never photograph anyone will their explicit enthusiastic yes.

  • No. Drone use isn’t permitted during the event.

    To protect privacy and maintain a safe environment, only pre-approved SOAK production teams may operate drones for site-related and production purposes.