By Sara Collas, AKA Peru
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/14/26 – The first lesbian party scene I discovered was in the early 1980s at a lesbian bar called Isis in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was my entrée into lesbian nightlife, culture and community.
Four decades later, the euphoria, music, drama, friendships and bonds that can emerge in these spaces continue. And few places embody all of that quite like The Dinah.
If you haven’t heard of The Dinah, you might not be a lesbian, or perhaps you somehow missed The L Word on Showtime and never fell in love with Shane or Alice.
Last year, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, who played Shane and Alice, were at The Dinah signing copies of their book, So Gay for You, and even taking turns as guest bartenders. Patient fans waited in lines that seemed to snake endlessly down the hallway, hoping for an autograph, a photograph or maybe just a fleeting smile from one of their favorite stars.
The bar lines were memorable for another reason. With so many people trying to get a drink at once, patience occasionally wore thin. Let’s hope this year brings plenty of bartenders and security to keep the drinks flowing and the good times going.
A New Era for The Dinah
The 2026 Dinah carries even greater significance because it marks the beginning of a new era.
After 35 years under longtime founder Mariah Hanson, who transformed The Dinah into an internationally recognized LGBTQ+ cultural institution, the festival is now owned and produced by Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia.
Barkow and Garcia acquired The Dinah in a full ownership transition and have made it clear that their goal is not to discard what generations of attendees have loved, but to build upon it.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” Garcia previously told The Hollywood Times. “We’re taking the baton and continuing what Mariah created.”
Hanson remains involved as a consultant, providing valuable continuity and perspective as the festival she created moves into its next chapter.
For Barkow and Garcia, that means preserving The Dinah’s legendary parties, music and entertainment while creating even more opportunities for attendees to connect with one another.
The Dinah, one of the most iconic celebrations in LGBTQ+ culture, returns to Palm Springs from September 30 through October 4, 2026.
Besides the usual sweltering desert heat, famous pool parties and abundance of beautiful people, this year brings some new additions.
Comedy is back, with Cameron Esposito, Pink Foxx and A.B. Farrelly scheduled to take the stage.
There will also be a diverse group of Dinah dancers, including performers such as Jkillem, a masculine-presenting lesbian who has been generating plenty of attention on social media with dance videos that inspire enthusiastic fans — and plenty of tips.
More Ways to Connect
The evolving Dinah experience also includes singles and solo-traveler meetups, sober-friendly options, sports and creative activities, comedy and continued efforts to make the festival welcoming across generations and identities.
And speaking for some of us longtime Dinah attendees: more chairs would also be greatly appreciated.
Not all of us are 25 anymore, and after several hours of dancing, mingling and navigating a Palm Springs pool party, a comfortable seat can suddenly become the hottest ticket in town.
At its core, however, The Dinah remains about something much bigger than any individual party or performer.
It is about community.
For decades, the festival has created a space where LGBTQ+ women, nonbinary people and their friends can arrive in Palm Springs from across the country, and around the world, and spend several days where celebration, visibility and belonging take center stage.
The audience is evolving, too.
During The Dinah 2025, Garcia asked the crowd how many were attending for the first time. An estimated 60 to 70 percent raised their hands, demonstrating that an entirely new generation is discovering The Dinah alongside longtime attendees who have made the festival an annual tradition.
Barkow and Garcia plan to continue expanding national and international outreach while protecting the spirit that made The Dinah famous.
The Music Is Ready to Explode
Of course, music remains at the heart of The Dinah.
On Friday, October 2, hip-hop icon Da Brat headlines the signature Black and White Ball, joined by British Colombian R&B artist Sasha Keable.
Earlier that day, Blimes Brixton performs during the G-Spot Pool Party at the Hilton Palm Springs.
Saturday, October 3, brings one of the weekend’s biggest nights. The Aces and Hayley Kiyoko will take over the stage at The Hollywood Party at Hotel Zoso.
Then, on Sunday, October 4, Mama Duke helps close out the pool-party festivities at the Sunday Sapphic Splash at the Hilton Palm Springs.
Emerging artists include Oceana Justice, Layluscious and Bri Carter, adding another generation of performers to The Dinah stage.
And, naturally, there will be DJs.
Featured DJ Tatiana has traveled the world throwing down beats designed to keep crowds moving late into the night. DJ P. Nasty also returns to The Dinah with her eclectic playlist, alongside a lineup of DJs keeping the energy going throughout the weekend.
Over the years, The Dinah has developed a reputation for recognizing rising talent before the rest of the world catches on. Its stages have featured artists ranging from emerging performers to major international stars.
The new ownership team intends to continue that tradition by booking female, queer, nonbinary and allied artists who reflect the diversity and energy of the community.
Celebrities, Creators and Familiar Faces
There will also be plenty of celebrities, influencers and content creators roaming Palm Springs throughout the weekend.
This year’s expected appearances include familiar Dinah personalities and social-media favorites such as Catalina, Steph Rosales, Alex Schar, Taylor and Lauren, Magan & Dayna, Vanessa Papa, Kirstie Nicole, Whitney Mixter and Romi.
Part of the fun of The Dinah has always been that you never quite know who might be standing next to you at the bar, dancing beside you at the pool or walking the red carpet.
Who Is The Dinah For?
The Dinah website includes an extensive FAQ section addressing a question attendee have asked for years: Can male friends attend?
The answer is yes, The Dinah welcomes women and their friends, including men, while emphasizing that the festival is intentionally centered on women and creating an environment where women feel seen, heard and safe.
That distinction matters.
For all the dancing, celebrity appearances, flirtation, pool parties and late-night adventures, The Dinah has always represented something deeper: the freedom to exist in a space where queer women are not the minority.
For a few days in Palm Springs, we are everywhere.
More Than a Party
For Palm Springs, The Dinah is much more than an entertainment weekend. It has become part of the city’s LGBTQ+ history and one of the events most closely associated with its reputation as a welcoming desert destination.
And The Hollywood Times will be there for Dinah 2026.
I’ll be covering the festivities, personalities, performances, fashion, surprises and, undoubtedly, a few unforgettable moments throughout the weekend.
After 35 years of history, The Dinah is moving forward, honoring the legacy Mariah Hanson created while allowing a new generation to make the experience its own.
The faces may change.
The music may change.
The parties may evolve.
But that feeling of walking into a space filled with thousands of LGBTQ+ women and realizing, “These are my people,” remains remarkably powerful.
Four decades after I first walked into Isis in Cleveland, I still understand the magic of discovering a place where lesbians are not hidden, unusual or on the sidelines.
At The Dinah, we are ubiquitous, glamorous and chic.
And in Palm Springs, there is still plenty to celebrate.
For schedules, programming and ticket information, visit TheDinah.com and follow @thedinahshore on social media.
