Long Feng Art Car Returns to Burning Man 2025 With Star-Studded DJ Lineup
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa
Myth. Music. Magic….
If you’ve ever stood in the middle of the playa, sun rising over the dust, and felt music wrap around you like a spell, then you know the power of a true Burning Man moment. This year, that moment will have a name: Long Feng.
The art car, equal parts myth and machine, is back for its highly anticipated return to Burning Man 2025, and it’s not just a ride- it’s a world in motion. Think dragon meets phoenix, contortionist meets spaceship, East meets West. Long Feng unfurls across the desert with the grace of the performers who inspired its form, bending and flowing to meet the energy of every set, every sunrise, every heartbeat.
A Love Story on Wheels
Long Feng isn’t just another mega art car, it’s a love letter. Born from a sacred union between two veteran burners, this project is fueled by beauty, unity, and the magic that happens when community comes first. Guided by the ethos “Let Beauty Lead,” the build itself is a living, breathing paradox: ancient symbols reimagined with future tech, designed not just as a stage but as a bridge between worlds.
At its core, Long Feng is the largest performing art car on the playa and the first of its kind. Its shape mirrors the fluidity of a contortionist’s body, molding itself to the performer it hosts. It is, in every sense, built by performers, for performers. Creative director Mark Alan Diaz puts it best: “We built Long Feng with the precision of a tailor, every cut intentional, and every detail curated.”
Myth Meets Machine
From afar, Long Feng looks like it rolled out of a dream. Up close, the design is a masterpiece of symbolism. The dragon and phoenix represent sacred union. The egg, or pearl, signifies cultural rebirth. The Five Elements- Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood- ground the project in the foundations of creation. But this isn’t just about reverence for tradition.
Long Feng pushes into the future with AI, robotics, and interactive technology, conceived as more than a vehicle: a mechanical being, evolving into its own intelligence. It’s an experiment in what happens when humans and machines don’t just coexist, but celebrate together. On the playa, that means experiences designed to ignite every sense and pull burners into an entirely new realm of performance culture.
The Lineup: Sunrise to Stardust
Of course, what’s an art car without the soundtrack to match? Long Feng’s Burning Man 2025 lineup reads like a dream diary for electronic music lovers. Damian Lazarus, Crosstown Rebels’ wizard of mysticism, takes the helm. Vintage Culture brings his chart-topping Brazilian energy. Adam Ten b2b Mita Gami deliver their only extended B2B of the Burn, while Latin house heavyweight Gordo sets the night on fire.
Francis Mercier and Mahmut Orhan promise a globe-spanning Afro-deep fusion. Kaz James plays his one and only art car set of the week. House tastemaker Lee Foss brings Chicago swagger. Rising Brazilian star MAZ, melodic techno craftsman Colyn, and Norwegian duo Kream all add their flavor. Closing out, Kimonos, Arodes, and AMÉMÉ round out the journey in pure playa style.
From sunrise odysseys to peak-night blowouts, Long Feng is about to soundtrack some of the most unforgettable moments of Burning Man 2025.
Sound Like You’ve Never Heard
The team wasn’t playing around when it came to audio. Partnering with Sound Investment Audio (SIA), they’ve built a system worthy of the car’s grandeur. Funktion-One, NST Audio, Full Fat Audio—the works. “It is rare that, as designers, we are given the opportunity to design the ultimate system for a once-in-a-generation art and music fusion creation,” says SIA partner Todd Konecny. Translation? Expect sound that cuts through the dust with clarity, depth, and soul.
The Dragon Awakens
But the moment everyone is waiting for? Thursday night. Long Feng will host the first-ever Dragon Awakening Tie-Up, a legendary convergence of the playa’s most iconic dragon art cars. Abraxas, Elektra, Heavy Meta, Torch the Dragon, Xuza, and more will join Long Feng in a collective blaze of fire, light, and sonic storytelling. It will be the largest dragon tie-up the desert has ever seen, a true spectacle of scale and imagination.
Throughout the week, Long Feng will also connect with playa favorites like Bipolar Express, Titanics End at PlayAlchemist, and Maxa Camp, ensuring the magic doesn’t just happen in one place but ripples across Black Rock City.
The Future Rolls In
Burning Man 2025 marks not just Long Feng’s return, but its evolution. Expanded production, immersive performances, and a boundary-pushing blend of dance, circus, and storytelling will take center stage. The message is simple but powerful: art cars aren’t just moving stages anymore, they’re moving futures.
As the desert dust rises and music meets myth under the stars, Long Feng will shine as a beacon of what’s next: a reminder that when beauty leads, community follows, and innovation has no limit.
Because at Burning Man, it’s never just about the music or the art. It’s about the moments that live long after the playa dust fades, and Long Feng is building a few that will be impossible to forget.
