What is a Burn?

A burn is a multi-day human gathering following the principles and example of Burning Man. Burns are different from a festival as the only things you’ll find at a Burn are what you & others like you bring. No-one is curating an experience for you to consume. We’re all sharing things we want to and working together to ensure that everyone has a good time.
No one is paid. Everyone buys a ticket. If you think something should be done then discuss, collaborate & do it.

There are no spectators or attendees at a burn – only participants. It’s up to you to make your own burn (together).

WE HAVE 11-ish CORE PRINCIPLES!

We’ve adopted the broad 10 principles of Burning Man & an eleventh principle of each one teach one from Afrika-Burn. While CONSENT is not an official principle (as it is a basic mandatory behaviour expected of all rather than an option or aspiration) it is treated as something which underpins all the other principles.
These principles aren’t rules, indeed they are intentionally in tension with each other, and can be thought of best as guides to the standards and behaviours we aspire to. They act as a projection of our community’s ethos and a set of cultural behaviours reflecting shared values.
They’re not in any particular order.

RADICAL INCLUSION

Anyone can belong to Celtic Burn. We welcome and respect the stranger. You don't have to be a member, to become a member. Include others as you want to be included, with respect, consideration and benevolence. Remember, it takes more than tolerance for there to be effective integration. Inclusion starts first with acceptance of Self, of the world around us, of the many moments that form our lives, and of all the different ways there are to be Human. In the end, we all face barriers of one kind or the other, and it's up to us to step past our perceived limitations to stand (or sit) as equal members of this community.

COMMUNAL EFFORT

Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. Together we are stronger. If we can make life easier, we will. If we can make life better, we will. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up alter ourselves and endeavour, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

RADICAL SELF-RELIANCE

Celtic Burn encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner resources.

You are responsible for you, mentally and physically. You need to take care of yourself. Give yourself what you need-and ask others for help when you need it.

GIFTING
We give our time, effort and gifts freely. We give to help others and because it makes us feel good. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

DECOMMODIFICATION

In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience. That also means no commerce on site. By removing commerce from our community, we create cooperation and participation.

We live without money to remind us of what's really important.

RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION

Radical self-expression means being and becoming your true self, embracing your unique gifts without external determination, while respecting and valuing others; Celtic Burn offers a space to live fully and freely beyond the 'default world,' but expression should be a gift given with respect for the recipient's rights and liberties.

PARTICIPATION

Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through deep personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. Get involved - Celtic Burn is what we make it. Your contribution is more valuable than you realize.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY

We, as a community, should assume responsibility for our communal welfare and endeavour to communicate communal responsibilities to all-inside and outside the space-time of our events. We must be nothing but excellent to each other. We must recognize our privileges in this world to neither judge nor act in a manner that could affect anyone else negatively.

IMMEDIACY

Make now count. All this will soon be gone, so enjoy now. Experience, participate, be. React to what is going on. We incarnate ourselves into every precious moment and live it to the fullest, right there, right then. Immediate experience is important.

EACH ONE TEACH ONE

As a self-reliant community, we believe the responsibility of spreading our knowledge and skills lies with each and every one of us. We all have something to teach and something to learn to make our community and its individuals more independent and ever-evolving.

How is Celtic Burn different?

Celtic Burn is an event, known as a "Burn", usually held in Scotland in April, but this year in England from 20-27 July 2026. Celtic burn was conceived by members of the UK Burning Man community who dreamt of approaching both the organisation and content of a burn differently.

They envisioned an experiment in decentralised decision making, co-creating an organisational structure that both invites and demands wide and active participation, at the same time as making space to reconnect, restore and regenerate over the dark and cold months.

HOW DO WE WORK?

Everything at Celtic burn has been developed in a distributed co-creation model, run through

Loomio and Telegram with open and inclusive conversations, collaboration and decision making. No single person or group has power over another.

Individuals have come together to identify things that need doing & take responsibility for them: creating temporary crews to carry out tasks and get things done.

This has allowed individuals to collaborate and build the event we call 'Celtic Burn.'

Where decisions have been needed they have been put to the participating community in a number of ways, through the collaborative platforms we've used. Everyone who has cared to has fed into those discussions & had their say, to reflect all viewpoints and arrive at appropriate decisions.

Decisions made are visible to all, with all resources and documents shared digitally.

Some things we've wanted to do haven't happened, due to a lack of engaged humans, or lack of time to get them done.

If you want to get involved to help shape the way Celtic Burn evolves in future you can. Join the Scottish Burners community on Telegram or find other links from our website: www.celticburn.org

What will you find at Celtic Burn?

COMMUNAL KITCHEN/ FOOD

As we’re only 150 people we have set up a communal food group with everyone participating in cooking a communal meal. This isn’t compulsory but if you plan on eating food from the communal kitchen you need to sign up to do a kitchen shift, you can do this on the Master Spreadsheet.

All kitchen members are expected to participate in cooking/serving/cleaning communal meals.

If you haven't joined the kitchen membership, be sure to bring enough food with you for the whole event You’ll also need your own means of preparing & cooking it. There is no commerce at the burn - this means you cannot buy food (or anything else) on-site. It's best to try and not leave the site too, so as to not break the magic bubble.

TOILETS

There are some of these.

FIRE PITS

We have a number of fire pits this year, and scope for individual BBQs provided they are sited sensibly and don’t damage the grass (or anyone’s stuff).

WATER & SHOWERS

We have running water on site, along with 2 hot showers. If you’re likely to want a shower we’d encourage you to bring your own camping shower (or improvise one) as we can’t guarantee the site showers will be either empty or warm.

POWER

There is electricity on-site, in the buildings & communal spaces (depending on what we can run cables to). Don't count on being able to charge devices. Bring battery packs & put your phones on low-power modes. Or don't bring phones, that works too!

WELFAERIES

Burns can be emotionally challenging experiences Feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone. One of the buildings on-site will be reserved throughout the event. We have a cosy, calm welfare space at the burn where anyone is welcome to go when needed. This is a space with kind volunteers who will await you and hold space for you. Stop in to say hi and have a regulating cup of tea.

We will also have on-call Welfaeries roaming around the site, (based in Welfare) to help out. Welfaeries are not there to solve all your problems. They’re not in charge & despite having faerie wings they don’t have any special powers (apart from compassion & sobriety), but they are sober and have radios.

PHONE SIGNAL

There is phone signal on-site. You may find though that you get more out of the burn if you minimise the amount you look at your phone.

COMMERCE
There isn’t any. Nothing is sold or bought at a burn, so be prepared to bring everything you need for the week.

ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN

All events and times are subject to change and the site will run on the pretty flexible concept of 'burner-time'). Spontaneous happenings are encouraged- come forward at morning meetings!

At Celtic Burn, we celebrate spontaneity and the magic of the moment. While there may be some pre-planned activities, the daily program truly comes to life during our morning meetings. That's where you'll discover the gifts others are sharing-and where you are most welcome to announce your own! This will probably be at 11 & things that are going on that day will be written up on a whiteboard.

VOLUNTEERING

Everything at Celtic Burn is done by all of US, which is to say, YOU.

There are no spectators, only active participants.

Doing shifts as Welfaeries, helping to greet newcomers at the Entrance, parking vehicles or cooking for the communal food group are integral parts of Celtic Burn and a great way to meet others. SHIFTS can be signed up for on the Master Spreadsheet.

There will be a place to sign-up for shifts on-site too. Personally I wouldn’t leave it that late though.

Useful Info

COLLABORATION AND SEEKING FURTHER INFORMATION

There is a lot of planning going on & much discussion on lots of important topics. While we’ve tried to summarise (some of) them here you can find more information and ask further questions on the CB26 Planning and Introductions Telegram Group.

FIRE

This year we have the opportunity to have fire on-site. This means we will have some fire-pits for sitting and chilling (or warming) around. We’ll also have 2 larger communal burns – of an Effigy & Temple.

There are designated fire pit areas ringed with stones. Firewood is kindly provided by the site. Please be respectful of these spaces. This means engaging with them in a safe manner, when you are sober enough to do so, and only adding wood as needed (don't burn the whole supply in one evening!).

Gas-burning stoves are OK in camping areas, but you are responsible for them. Any flames used by campers for cooking should be raised off the ground (e.g. put your cooker on a stable piece of wood or table) and used safely. Do not leave them unattended, and bring appropriate equipment to extinguish them if needed.

Do not damage the grass – burn scars where you had your fire are NOT OK.
If you want to bring a brazier, BBQ or burn barrel please discuss safety measures in the fire chat on Telegram in advance of the event.

EFFIGY AND TEMPLE BURNS

At Celtic Burn 2026 we will have larger-scale Art Burns for the first time!

Effigy will burn shortly after sunset (9:30pm) on Friday and Temple will burn shortly after sunset (9:30pm) on Saturday.
Those times and dates are weather dependent, but if they change it’ll be publicised on-site.

Our Fire Keepers are wonderful sober volunteers who look after the safety of us, the participants, as well as the land. Fire Keepers are strongly advised to bring natural fibre clothing (cotton, wool, leather etc), covering as much skin and hair as possible, and stay hydrated.

How you can stay safe during the Art Burns: Fire Keepers will guide you on where it is safe to sit in a horseshoe around the Effigy and Temple, and may offer other guidance before or during the Burn. Please follow their guidance where possible. You may choose to wear natural fibres as well, and definitely stay hydrated. If sparks land on you, your friends, or people's belongings, please pat them out. If it gets too hot, move back - and take all your belongings with you.

A naked run or dance is traditional around an Effigy Burn. If you choose to partake, remember where you left your clothes and come back for them!

FIRE DANCING/SPINNING

There may be fire dancing at Celtic Burn this year. This will depend on availability of sober volunteers, and equipment. While we’re open to fire spinning happening no one has organised this. If you want to do this it’s your own responsibility to do this safely & co-ordinate with others to make it happen. The morning meetings are a good place to bring this up.
There will likely be workshops, impromptu and pre-organised. Bring props, whether practice props, LEDs, or fire props. If you bring staffs/broom handles, poi/socks and rice there will be more chance of workshops.

SMOKING

If you smoke, please do so considerately: bring a portable ashcatcher or ashtray and use it to catch ash and put out and contain your butts.

BOOZE

There is no commerce on site - no paid bar. However, there will be a donation-based bar relying on bottles, mixers, and other fun drinkables brought by you lovely people. This means a range of exotic/random cocktails. Mixers are especially welcome, as they often run out.

Please bring any infused vodka, homebrew, spirits, beers or whatever else you love to serve or be served. We'd love to keep the bar running for the whole event - but that only works if we have enough to drink and enough people to help serve. To be honest you can serve yourselves – bring plenty of booze though.

So come along, have a drink, and serve a drink!

Oh, and please bring your own cup!

CONSENT

While at Celtic Burn, please respect the boundaries and bodily autonomy of others. Err on the side of caution when initiating interactions, especially if anyone is under the influence or you do not know each other. We have a culture of looking after each other and keeping an eye out for people who may be struggling or in distress, so please also be a consent fairy and help take care of each other!

Should you have a consent related issue that you need help with immediately at the burn, please go to welfare. The consent team is in place to handle risk assessment and possible repair after an event, and is not structured to have “active duty”. Welfare will make sure you are taken care of, take a few details from you, and pass on these details to the consent team, who will assign a pair of people after the event, to take on your case, gather information from all parties, and decide next steps.

If you want to report a consent issue after an event, you can use the consent team email: consent.celticburn@gmail.com
This basic incident report prompt can be used as a guide to making a report to the consent team by email.

If you would like to volunteer to be in our pool of deeply appreciated volunteers, you can find more info on our consent team model and how it works in this easy-listen ~7 minute explainer video.
You can find more information about the Celtic Burn consent framework and how it all works here: Scottish Burn Consent Team Policies and Procedures.pdf

LBT (Leave a Better Trace)
This is our version of LNT (Leave No Trace)

There are a couple of the burning man principles which group together to inspire the

“Leave Better Trace” ethos. These are: Leave No Trace, Radical Self-Reliance & Communal Effort.

The Leave A Better Trace ethos is to leave the world better than we found it.
This could be when you pick up a piece of moop (Matter Out Of Place – something which shouldn’t be there; eg a crisp packet in a field) from the default world on build day and take it away

with you.
This could be volunteering for the communal waste management system:

the Leave A Better Trace Team (LBT team).
This could be by creating some art from the offerings in the Leave A Better Trace Space (LBT space).
This could be staying on top of your own waste and knowing how you are going to take it away at the end.
You could also volunteer to take away rubbish for someone travelling on public transport if you are driving.
If you’d like to take away food waste for your compost bin please bring a sealable container to put it in.

We are responsible for all the waste we generate, and each individual must be mindful of how they will dispose of things. Try to remove all packaging from what you are bringing before you pack it, taking less rubbish with you means less to take away again.
The LBT waste collection will not be responsible for removing your waste at strike. We would encourage people who drive to the event to volunteer to take a bag of communal waste away with them on Strike day, as there will inevitably be some waste that slips through the cracks, and is collected during strike moop sweeps.

A moop sweep is when a line of burners, 2 meters apart, walks the earth scanning the

environment for moop, and removing it.

Leave Better Trace Team

The mission of keeping the site free from moop is everyone’s!!!! There will be designated

volunteers between noon and 8pm to manage waste from the kitchen/dining area and roam about on various rubbish related side quests. There will also be a volunteer driver to remove

waste collected by the LBTT from site.

Rubbish and general recycling will not be collected from the campsites. It is every individual burner’s responsibility to manage their own personal waste, and work out how they will remove it from site and dispose of it.
Uncrushed cans will be collected from the campsites for can tile making at various places around the site. Food waste will also be collected from the campsites.
The communal food waste collection is available for those with compost facilities to take

away if they can. Bring a suitable container for taking away a bag or 5 of food waste.

There will be 2x “wandering foxes”, based at the LBTS. They will spend most of their time wandering around the burn, completing LBT quests. There will be a “lead seagull” who stays at the LBTS. They will supervise burners playing rubbish and creating art from trash.

Please sign up for shifts in the LBT tab of the Master Spreadsheet.
If you want more in depth info about exactly what the Leave Better Trace Team volunteers will do, have a read at the Leave Better Trace Info Doc.

Leave Better Trace Space

The Leave Better Trace Space (LBTS) will be in one of the long stone buildings. It will have a “lead seagull volunteer” based there during the day. There will be workshops on upcycling, a junk bang, bin bags for personal use, sorted waste for crafting supplies to take home and so much more...
If you have some rubbish you know how to upcycle, and think the burn might generate this rubbish, think about volunteering to do a workshop on it. This space will have specific equipment which can only be used when LBTS volunteers are present.

LOST PROPERTY

There will be a permanent lost property in the LBTS. If you find anything that needs to find it’s way back home, or be kept safe until its owner finds it, bring it here. The space should only be used to look for or deposit lost property when there are no volunteers. On strike day the space will transform into the strike lost property. Anything (not rubbish) you find which is not yours and you can’t find who it belongs to, should be brought to the LBTS on strike day. Burners should also not leave the site without checking the lost property because there will be something in there you didn’t know you have lost.

Leave space in your car to take your waste home. You are responsible for your own rubbish and must dispose of it responsibly.

More Key Info
SERIOUS PROBLEMS

As conscious, empathetic beings all enjoying each other's company, sometimes things may still arise that need mediation - or more. A trusted team has created a process to handle such situations, which will be explained in more detail on-site at a morning meeting. Feel free to always reach out to a Welfaerie first, who will kindly guide you to an appropriate team.

SITE RISKS
While we have a lovely site for this year's Celtic Burn there are a few risks and things to be aware of. There is a river running through the site; this is swiftly flowing and presents hazards of people being swept away by the force of the current. Be aware, do not swim alone, if at all.

There are also two derelict buildings on-site. We’re not allowed inside or near them, as there’s a serious danger of injury or death. If anyone goes inside we are very likely to endanger relations with the landowner. Stay away.

CHILDREN

Please be aware that Celtic Burn is a family-friendly event, and there will be minors present throughout. Please be aware of our Safeguarding Policy.

SEX & NUDITY
While the latter is very weather dependent the former is pretty certain to occur on-site.
We’ll have one S+ camp (Camp Crumpet) at Celtic Burn this year. So there is somewhere to go if your tent doesn’t appeal. With that said we do have a community agreement around sex & nudity at Celtic Burn. To summarise it: don’t fuck in public (outside of the S+ space).
Nudity can be expected anywhere at the burn, it’s not the same as sex, but be prepared to encounter it. If you’re nude be aware of your behaviour & proximity to others & use common sense.

THEME CAMPS
Theme camps are groups of people (or individuals) who have come together to provide a communal space with some focus or theme (music space, S+, toasties, etc). Please respect their spaces.

DOGS

The site is dog-friendly, so yes, you can bring your dog! But remember, you are fully responsible for your dog's behaviour.

Pick up after your dog - bring bags and use them. Keep your dog on a leash.

Be mindful that not all participants are comfortable around dogs, and some will have small children.

WHAT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO BRING

• Some common sense. If you can find some somewhere. (Pack for a friend too).

• Hot water bottle for freezy night time experience.

• Whatever you put in your toiletry bag: hand sanitiser/ soap/ toothbrush/ hairbrush/ towel/ a tiny first aid kit/ insect repellent / mooncup...

• Any medications you may need, healthy treats, supplements, etc.

• Bin Bags - to take away your waste!!

• Waterproof/warm shoes or boots.

• Clothes suitable for any weather you might expect in the Lake District in July, remember it may get cold at night. We don’t know if it’ll be rainy & muddy, cold & overcast or hot & sunny. Check the weather forecast & use your best judgement.

• If you're sleeping in tents: 12-inch tent stakes or rebar / sleeping bags & extra blanket/ sleeping mat/ pillow and warm gear.

• Moop bag / Portable ashtray.

• Enough food for your group for the duration of your stay and something to cook it with. Unless you're in the communal food membership. (+Your fave snacks and drinks for personal indulgence, remember - no shops at the site).

• Head torches/ wearable lights - People stumbling out of the darkness is not fun.

• Drinks - for you to drink & gift to others.

• A solid cup/ a water bottle.

• Shiny outfits, costumes, fancy hats... whatever you would enjoy wearing.

• Cutlery & a plate/bowl.

• A bag, where you can carry all your possessions in one place and hopefully not lose them!

• MAGICAL items. Anything that brings you or others joy!

• Games, art supplies, etc fun things!

What NOT to bring

• Anything which will break up/smash to little bits/fall off/turn into little bits that litter the surroundings: basically anything which will become

• MOOP (Matter Out Of Place). You really don't want to have to pick it all up.

• Excessive packaging - remove it before you get here. Remember everything you bring in, you must take out!

• A bad attitude

• Festival expectations. A burn is not a festival. No one is responsible for your burn but you.

HOW/ WHEN TO GET TO CELTIC BURN?

Arrive – Monday 20th of July.
That is the official start of the Burn.

Those who are arriving for build of a theme camp or art can, with prior arrangement, arrive from Friday 17th. If you do so be prepared to work, recognise that it is a working construction site not a pre-party & be aware there will be no kitchen open till the 20th.

Depart - Monday 27st of July

After you have helped take everything down & swept the place for MOOP.

WHERE IS CELTIC BURN LOCATED?

CELTIC BURN @ Ravenglass

What3Words:///yell.celebrate.friction

Google Maps:http://www.tolaris.com/cb

There is no actual address and postcode. Welcome to the countryside!

If you really need a postcode to get you in the general area use CA18 1RD

DO NOT STOP THERE – That is a random guesthouse on the A595. Keep going on the A595 (towards Bootle) & follow the directions below:

The postcode should get you to the general area, but here's more specific details:

• Coming from Ravenglass train station, head towards Main Street.

• Turn right onto Main Street.

• Make a slight turn right onto the A595 heading towards Bootle. This will take you past the postcode above

• Keep going on that road for 1.8 miles, till you cross Muncaster Bridge

• Immediately after the bridge turn left onto Birkby Road

• Take the second right onto the site road

• There should be a sign saying either Howbank Farm or Celtic Burn

RIDESHARES & PUBLIC TRANSPORT

A spreadsheet for rideshares can be found linked at this location. It is also linked to from the master spreadsheet.
There is also a rideshare chat on the CB26 planning channel on Telegram.

The nearest train station is Ravenglass (for Eskdale).

The Celtic Burn Site

Here’s a map (not to scale):

This map was drawn up before anyone got on-site & measured things. It is approximate & the actual locations of theme camps and communal spaces will depend on power requirements, sound levels & amount of actual usable space.

In practice theme camps/communal spaces may well be spread over a wider area than shown above.

If you are putting up a communal space then speak to those who were on-site for build before you start putting anything up.

FINAL QUESTIONS?

If you have any further questions either email us at celts.burn@gmail.com

Or ask in the Telegram CB26 planning group.