The Custom Firmware and all final documentation released on August 14th, 2026!
New here? Start with the Frequently Asked Questions.
¶ Welcome to Meshtastic at Burning Man
¶ 🔥📡 The 2026 Burning Mesh Firmware Is Live!
Hello, dusty humans!
The 2026 Burning Mesh firmware is officially live: https://burn.meshtastic.org/
Before you head home to Black Rock City, there are three important things to do:
1️⃣ Flash the 2026 Firmware
You must flash this year’s firmware to participate in the mesh.
Last year’s firmware is not compatible with the 2026 mesh, even if your radio worked perfectly on playa last year. Every device needs to be reflashed.
Flashing instructions:
https://docs.burningmesh.org/en/guides/quick_start
2️⃣ Set Up Your Camp Channel and Location Sharing
Once your radio is flashed, create or join your camp’s private channel and configure location sharing.
This will help your camp stay connected, coordinate adventures, and find one another when “meet me by the big glowing thing” is not quite specific enough.
Camp channel and location-sharing instructions:
https://docs.burningmesh.org/en/guides/camp_channels_and_locations
3️⃣ Download Offline Maps
Cell service is not something we can count on in Black Rock City. Download your maps before you arrive so you can view shared locations and navigate around playa without an internet connection.
🤖 Android:
https://docs.burningmesh.org/en/offline_maps/android_offline_maps
🍎 iPhone / iOS:
https://docs.burningmesh.org/en/offline_maps/ios_offline_maps
Please get everything set up before you hit the dust, and share this announcement with anyone in your camp who will be joining Burning Mesh this year.
❤️ Thank You!
A huge thank-you to everyone participating in the mesh, setting up radios, helping campmates, hosting infrastructure, testing coverage, and contributing to this weird and wonderful experiment.
Burning Mesh only exists because all of you choose to build it together.
See you in the dust! 🔥📡
Flash and configure a radio for Burning Mesh 2026, then continue to private camp chat and location sharing.
Camp Channels / Group Chats and Location Sharing
Choose the right Meshtastic channel setup for your camp, create an encrypted group chat, and configure location sharing.
Download and configure the 2026 Burning Man MBTiles offline map in the Meshtastic app on Android.
Download and configure 2026 Burning Man offline maps and GeoJSON overlays in the Meshtastic app on iOS.
¶ ✨ What is Meshtastic?
Meshtastic is an open-source, off-grid communication platform that enables people to stay connected using low-power, long-range radios. With Meshtastic, you can send text messages, share GPS locations, and communicate securely—even in remote areas with no cellular or internet access. Think about it as walkie talkies for texting.
It's built on inexpensive hardware, easy to configure, and runs completely free of centralized infrastructure. Perfect for places where conventional communication isn't guaranteed.
¶ 🎯 Our Mission at Burning Man
Our goal is to empower the Burning Man community with resilient, decentralized communication tools. Whether you're deep in the playa or exploring a remote art installation, Meshtastic can help you:
- Stay connected with your camp and friends
- Coordinate activities and safety without relying on cell networks
- Explore and share the playa with GPS location sharing
- Foster creativity and autonomy through open technology
¶ 💬 Have questions? Join our Discord
While you wait for the August 14th release, come hang out with the community on Discord. Ask questions, meet fellow builders, and get early updates straight from the team.