The Dinah is almost here. The legendary queer women's music festival and series of parties held annually in Palm Springs will return for its 35th anniversary under new owners Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia, and longtime festivalgoers will notice a few additions.
Along with expanding to a second hotel, the festival will now feature two pool parties each day, and there are now dedicated events for singles to meet and mingle. Organizers have also reintroduced stand-up comedy sets to the lineup, led by headliner Cameron Esposito and also featuring Abe Farrelly and Pink Foxx.
In 2025, Dinah founder Mariah Hanson retired and sold the event to Barkow and Garcia. She told The Desert Sun even though she loved producing the event, "it's the end of an era
and the beginning of a new dawn" for The Dinah and it needed a "fresh voice."
"Producing any festival is stressful, and when I was younger, I loved it," she said. "Stress is a superpower for people like me, but as I get older, I'm balancing out what that means as I'm aging, and it doesn't mean the same thing. I need to slow it down and ride my horses more often. I'd like to write a book, do some public speaking and softer things. I'm a super savvy businesswoman, and when I need to pivot, I know how to pivot. Let's just say I'm a good dancer."
Here is everything you need to know about attending the 35th anniversary Dinah.
When and where is The Dinah Palm Springs?
The Dinah begins on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 4.
Hotel Zoso and Hilton Palm Springs are the host hotels of The Dinah, and most of the scheduled events will take place across the two hotels. There are also a couple events that take place at Hunters Palm Springs in the Arenas District.
How do I get tickets to The Dinah 2026?
There are various types of passes and tickets, all available at eventbrite.com. Here's a breakdown:
- GA festival passes for the entire weekend are $303.94
- Premium weekend-long passes are $658.54
- Single-day passes for Friday and Saturday range from $168.80 to $191.32
- Single-day passes for Sunday cost $123.75
- Single-event tickets range from $23.51 to $113.61
Who is performing at The Dinah?
The Dinah will feature headlining performances by music artists Hayley Kiyoko, Da Brat, Sasha Keable and The Aces, as well as performances by Mama Duke, Blimes, Bri Carter and various DJs across the five-day event.
Also, there will be appearances by celebrity special guests, influencers and more.
What's the schedule for The Dinah?
You can see the full schedule at thedinah.com, but we've summarized all the main events for you below:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
What: 'Down the Rabbit Hole' Dinah Pre-Party
When and where: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sept. 30 at Spirit Animal, Hotel Zoso, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Suite B, Palm Springs
Cost: Free to all Dinah ticketholders
THURSDAY, OCT. 1
What: The Dinah's Official Opening Party
When and where: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 1 at Hunter's, 302 E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $46.04
FRIDAY, OCT. 2
What: G-Spot Pool Party
When and where: Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Hilton Palm Springs, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Cost: $91.08
What: Black and White Ball
When and Where: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 2 at Hotel Zoso, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $113.61
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
What: L-Word Pool Party
When and where: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Hilton Palm Springs, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Cost: $113.61
What: Comedy
When and where: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Hotel Zoso, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $29.15
What: The Hollywood Party
When and where: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 3 at Hotel Zoso, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $113.61
SUNDAY, OCT. 4
What: Sunday Sapphic Splash Pool Party
When and where: 11a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 4 at Hilton Palm Springs, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Cost: $91.08
What: Closing Party
When and where: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 4 at Hunter's, 302 E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $46.04
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Ultimate guide to one of the world's biggest queer events: The Dinah
