Thanks for your interest in ChiCargo 2026!

• 1. New & noteworthy

  2. The basics

  3. Prohibited items

  4. Bins

  5. Bikes

  6. Irregular items

  7. Chicago drop off

  8. Playa pick up

  9. Playa drop off

  10. Chicago pick up

  11. Payment

  12. Link to sign up form

  13. Stay connected

1. New & noteworthy

• • Bikes: we are trialing a number of enhancements and improvements:

    • No need to remove pedals, turn handlebars, etc.

    • Increased bike capacity

    • No deposit system for bikes

    • One-way bike shipping now available

    • Better support for e-bikes

  • Reminders from last year:

    • New "Shipping Aid" discount, 40% off, honor-system-based

    • Public art discount increased from 10% to 40%, also honor-system-based

  • Playa drop off deadline is now Monday 9am  (formerly 10am)

  • Weight limit for all items is 80 lbs

2. The basics:

• • Roundtrip prices:

    • $80 per BYO standardized bin

    • $16 per cubic foot for irregular items

    • $140 per bike

  • One-way shipping is 50% off for all items

  • Transported by contracted freight professionals via a licensed & insured semi-trailer

  • Space is limited, first come first serve, and reservations are valid only after completion of the online sign up and successful payment processing

  • Sign up closes when space is filled OR Friday 8/14 at 11:59pm CDT and there are no refunds after that time

  • Discounts

    • All discounts applied automatically during sign up! (previously manual)

      • Public art

        • 40% discount! (previously 10%)

        • During sign up, artist must provide art's name, description, and approximate location

        • Personal items & art must be two different sign ups, must be physically separate during packing & shipping

        • Before 10/1/2026, artist must provide 1-3 photos of installed art, for addition to ChiCargo art showcase

      • Shipping Aid

        • 40% discount

        • Details:

          • This program is based on Burning Man's Ticket Aid program, but without any submission requirements, i.e. it is based on the honor system

          • This discount is reserved for participants on a limited income who cannot otherwise afford regular priced shipping. 

          • Participants who successfully received an event ticket through Burning Man's Ticket Aid program definitely qualify!

      • For both discount programs, eligible and ineligible items must be two different sign ups, and must be physically separate during packing & shipping

      • Misuse or abuse of discounts may result in ChiCargo lifetime ban!

3. Prohibited items

• • Prohibited items include but are not limited to:

    • illegal drugs: cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, etc;

    • "partially legal" drugs: marijuana, cannabis, derivatives or synthetic thereof, etc;

    • perishable food or beverage: produce, milk, fresh juices, etc;

    • fireworks: signal flares, sparklers, other explosives, etc;

    • flammables/fuel: propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, white gas, matches, lighters, etc;

    • paints: spray paint, oil-based paint, etc;

    • household Items: bleach, spray starch, insecticides, drain cleaners, solvents, etc;

    • pressure containers: scuba tanks, camp stove propane canisters, carbon dioxide cartridges, nitrous oxide cartridges, etc;

    • weapons: firearms, ammunition, gunpowder, mace, tear-gas, pepper spray, etc;

    • hazardous materials: dry ice, gasoline-powered tools, wet-cell batteries, camping equipment with fuel, radioactive materials, poisons, infectious substances, etc;

    • wet goods that could open and destroy other property and/or stink up the trailer (stinky cheese), etc.

    • living beings: dogs, cats, humans, fish, etc.

4. Bins

• • $80 price is only for 27 gallon "Commander" bins by Centrex

    • NOT 27 gallon "Professional Box" at Costco

    • NOT 27 gallon storage tote by HDX sold at Home Depot

    • NOT 27 gallon "Tough Tote" by Homz sold at Amazon

    • If you use a non-Centrex tote, it will be irregular and you will be charged $90 or more

  • Bins are available at:

    • Lowes (#rightbin): Ashland & Division, Diversey & Narragansett, etc.

  • Gross weight limit for bins is 80 lbs per bin (gross = contents + bin + lock + etc)

  • We reserve the right to refuse any bin that is visibly cracked or damaged at load in

  • Bag your bin contents or tape the edges of your bin to prevent intrusion of playa dust

  • If you’re re-using a bin from a previous ChiCargo year, make sure you remove previous labels!

  • At Chicago drop off, bins receive heavy-duty labels with the shipper's name & info, so labeling/decorating is not required.

  • If you want to label/decorate your bin, do so in non-MOOPy ways:

    • OK: Sharpie, paint pen, duct tape, large plastic stickers

    • NOT OK: Spray paint, house paint, masking tape, washi tape, small stickers, paper stickers

  • Lid must close completely and be secured at all 6 points with zip ties: cinch zip ties tight, cut off extra length

  • Bins should be packed carefully: they will have hundreds of pounds stacked on it, or leaning against it from any direction