The Dinah 2026: Complete Guide to Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs
Everything you need for The Dinah 2026 — the full Sept 30 – Oct 4 schedule, the Hilton and Hotel Zoso pool parties, Hayley Kiyoko's headline set, and where to stay in Palm Springs.
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Every fall, several thousand women take over two hotel pools in downtown Palm Springs and turn a quiet desert town into the center of the lesbian travel calendar. That's The Dinah — officially "the largest, longest-running female and non-binary music festival in the world," per the organizers — and in 2026 it runs Wednesday, September 30 through Sunday, October 4.
This year is the first under new ownership, with a headline slate led by Hayley Kiyoko. This guide covers the full schedule party by party, which hotel hosts what, how passes work, the Arenas District bars a few blocks away, where to stay if you don't grab a festival hotel room, and how to get to Palm Springs in the first place.
The Dinah 2026 Overview
- Dates: Wednesday, September 30 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
- City: Downtown Palm Springs, California
- Main venues: The Hilton Palm Springs (400 E Tahquitz Canyon Way) for the daytime pool parties and the Welcome Center; Hotel Zoso (150 S Indian Canyon Dr) for the night parties, comedy, and the Play Pool
- Music lineup so far: Hayley Kiyoko headlining, plus Da Brat, The Aces, and Sasha Keable
- Comedy lineup: Cameron Esposito and Pink Foxx, hosted by Abe Farrelly
- Tickets: Weekend passes, single-event tickets, and two-night hotel packages, all sold through thedinah.com
- New owners: BellaRose Productions — Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia — who took over from founder Mariah Hanson in February 2026
- Nearest airport: Palm Springs International (PSP), about two miles from downtown
The two festival hotels sit a tenth of a mile apart — a three-minute walk. Everything else on this page is measured from there.
What's on in Palm Springs
Live from our events calendar — updated daily.
The Dinah 2026 Schedule
The official schedule runs five days. Times below are as published by the festival — always re-check thedinah.com the week of, since set times and additions land late.
- Wednesday, Sept 30, 8 PM – 2 AM: Down the Rabbit Hole at Spirit Animal, Hotel Zoso — the free opening night
- Thursday, Oct 1, 1 – 5 PM: Welcome Center opens in the Hilton lobby
- Thursday, Oct 1, 9 PM – 2 AM: The Opening Party at Hunters, on Arenas Road
- Friday, Oct 2, 10 AM – 5 PM: Play Pool at the Hotel Zoso pool (also Saturday and Sunday)
- Friday, Oct 2, 12 – 6 PM: G-Spot Pool Party at the Hilton pool
- Friday, Oct 2, 7 – 9 PM: Singles & Solos Social Hour at Hotel Zoso
- Friday, Oct 2, 8 PM – 2 AM: The Black & White Ball at Hotel Zoso
- Saturday, Oct 3, 10 AM – 6 PM: The L-Word Pool Party at the Hilton pool
- Saturday, Oct 3, evening: The Dinah Comedy Show at Hotel Zoso
- Saturday, Oct 3, 9 PM – 2 AM: The Hollywood Party at Hotel Zoso
- Sunday, Oct 4, 11 AM – 5 PM: Sunday Sapphic Splash at the Hilton pool
Pro Tip
The festival has not announced which artist plays which night. If you're buying single-event tickets rather than a weekend pass and you're coming for a specific performer, wait for set times to post before you commit.
The Pool Parties
The pool parties are the reason people fly in. They run daily from Friday, split across the two hotels, and they're where the festival's scale actually becomes visible — the Hilton deck packed shoulder to shoulder, DJs running all afternoon, vendors along the edges.
The L-Word Pool Party
Saturday's L-Word Pool Party is the festival's signature day event, running 10 AM to 6 PM at the Hilton. The organizers describe it as the pool packed with attendees from around the world, with vendors, celebrities, and the Dinah DJs. If you only do one thing all weekend, this is the one people mean.
G-Spot Pool Party
Friday's G-Spot Pool Party opens the pool run at noon and goes to 6 PM, also at the Hilton, with live performances layered into the DJ sets. It's the first big one of the weekend, and it overlaps the Play Pool over at Zoso — which a same-day pool party ticket already covers, so you can move between the two.
Sunday Sapphic Splash
The Sunday Sapphic Splash closes the weekend, 11 AM to 5 PM at the Hilton, with DJs, performers, contests, and the "Dinah Duck Dive." Sunday is the slower, friendlier version of Saturday, and it runs until 5 PM, which is worth checking against your flight before you book.
Play Pool at Hotel Zoso
Play Pool is the quieter counterprogram, new for 2026 at the Hotel Zoso pool — 10 AM to 5 PM Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Old-school beats, poolside morning stretch, pool games with sponsor prizes, and non-alcoholic options alongside the regular bar. It's included with any same-day pool party ticket, a Dinah Quickie, or a weekend pass, and it's the place to go when the Hilton deck gets to be too much.
Pro Tip
Both hotel pools are outdoors and Palm Springs in early October still runs hot — daytime highs in the 90s are normal. Shade is limited once the deck fills. Bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, and drink more water than you think you need between cocktails.
The Night Parties
Nights move to Hotel Zoso, with one exception on Thursday.
Down the Rabbit Hole
The festival opens Wednesday night with Down the Rabbit Hole, billed as Spirit Animal at Hotel Zoso, 8 PM to 2 AM. It's free, which makes it the low-commitment way to start if you arrive a day early.
The Opening Party at Hunters
Thursday's Opening Party is the one night the festival leaves its hotels. It takes over Hunters at 302 E Arenas Rd — a women-owned nightclub, as the festival's own listing notes — from 9 PM to 2 AM, with Dinah dancers and Dinah DJs, and bottle service on request. Hunters is a couple of blocks from Hotel Zoso, so if you're staying downtown you can walk.
The Black & White Ball
Friday night's Black & White Ball runs 8 PM to 2 AM at Hotel Zoso and carries recording-artist performances. The dress code is in the name and people take it seriously — this is the night to pack something.
The Dinah Comedy Show
Saturday evening's comedy show at Hotel Zoso features Cameron Esposito and Pink Foxx, hosted by Abe Farrelly. It's free for Premium pass holders. Confirm the start time on the official schedule before you plan dinner around it.
The Hollywood Party
Saturday closes with The Hollywood Party at Hotel Zoso, 9 PM to 2 AM — a red carpet, a recording-artist performance, and the weekend's dress-up night after the Ball.
Palm Springs Nightlife Beyond The Dinah
Worth knowing before you land: Palm Springs' permanent bar scene skews heavily male, and there is no lesbian bar on the strip. The Dinah essentially builds its own nightlife inside two hotels for five days, and books Hunters for the one night it goes out. That said, the Arenas District is two blocks from Hotel Zoso and everything on it is welcoming — it's a good afternoon or a good late-night detour.
The Arenas District
Arenas Road is the city-designated gay neighborhood — Palm Springs formally recognized the Arenas District in 2022 — a single walkable block where nearly every bar in town sits within a few doors of the next. From Hotel Zoso it is a couple of blocks; from the Hilton, about three minutes.
- Streetbar — opened in 1991 as Streetbar Named Desire and credited as the first gay bar in Palm Springs; the strip grew up around it
- Hunters — the dance-floor anchor since 1998, two rooms plus front and rear patios, and the venue for The Dinah's Thursday Opening Party
- Chill Bar — two rooms, a big dance floor, and floor-to-ceiling glass looking out at the San Jacinto mountains
- Blackbook — a cocktail bar and gastropub with 450-plus whiskeys, from the owner of The Evening Citizen speakeasy across the street
- QUADZ — the video bar just off the strip on Indian Canyon, wall-to-wall screens and showtune sing-alongs
- Dick's on Arenas — the leather and Levi bar on the corner, unpretentious and open to everyone
Streetbar, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Hunters Palm Springs, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Chill Bar, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Blackbook, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
QUADZ, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Dick's on Arenas, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Beyond Arenas
A short rideshare gets you to the places that don't fit on one block.
- Toucans Tiki Lounge — a tiki bar on North Palm Canyon since around 2001, now run by Michele, with drag five nights a week
- Oscar's Downtown — a 15,000-square-foot complex on Tahquitz Canyon Way with an outdoor courtyard, an indoor showroom, and the Atrium Piano Bar
- The Saguaro — the rainbow-facade resort at the south end of town, whose pool deck hosts PS Drag Brunch on weekends
- Purple Room Supper Club — the mid-century supper club with live cabaret, back in season from September
Toucans Tiki Lounge, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Oscar's Downtown Palm Springs, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Purple Room Supper Club, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Where to Eat
Five days of pool parties require actual food. These are all within a short walk or a five-minute ride of the festival hotels.
- Lulu California Bistro — the big California bistro right at Palm Canyon and Arenas, with a terrace, a climate-controlled patio, and a 70-plus-dish menu; the default group dinner
- Bongo Johnny's — LGBTQ+ owned, on the Arenas strip, serving from 8 AM breakfast through dinner across two covered patios, dogs welcome
- Pinocchio in the Desert — the bottomless-mimosa brunch institution, with a patio built for a loud table
- Boozehounds — Uptown, dog-friendly, a Michelin-listed kitchen, and a Sunday drag lunch called Tea & Shade
Lulu California Bistro, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Bongo Johnny's Patio Bar & Grill Palm Springs, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Pinocchio In the Desert, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Boozehounds, Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Where to Stay for The Dinah
The Festival Hotels
The Dinah sells two-night hotel packages at its two host properties, with resort fees and taxes included, bookable through thedinah.com rather than the hotels directly.
- The Hilton Palm Springs, 400 E Tahquitz Canyon Way — the main accommodation hub. The Welcome Center is in the lobby, and all three big pool parties happen here. Parking is $30 per vehicle, first come, first served.
- Hotel Zoso, 150 S Indian Canyon Dr — hosts the Black & White Ball, The Hollywood Party, the comedy show, Singles & Solos, and the Play Pool. Packages include complimentary valet for one car per room.
These sell out, and they sell out early. If you want to walk upstairs at 2 AM instead of finding a ride, book the package as soon as you commit to the weekend.
Pro Tip
The hotel packages are two-night stays. If you're coming Wednesday for the free opening night or staying through Sunday's closing pool party, you'll need to add nights directly — sort that out at booking rather than trying to extend once the hotel is sold out.
Stay Downtown
If the festival hotels are gone, downtown still puts you within walking distance of both — the first three below are under half a mile from a host hotel, and the Courtyard is a short ride.
- Hyatt Palm Springs — full-service, on North Palm Canyon Drive, about a six-minute walk from either host hotel
- Avalon Hotel & Bungalows — four acres of gardens, three pools, and bungalows, about a seven-minute walk from Hotel Zoso
- Thompson Palm Springs — the IGLTA-listed luxury option, dual pools, some rooms with private plunge pools, about an eight-minute walk from the Hilton
- Courtyard by Marriott Palm Springs — the budget pick, two-thirds of a mile east of the Hilton — a 15-minute walk or a three-minute ride — with a pool and hot tub
Stay Uptown or South Palm Canyon
These sit one to two miles from downtown, at either end of Palm Canyon Drive — you'll rideshare to the parties, but you get a better pool for the hours you're not at one.
- ARRIVE — boutique in the Uptown Design District, pool bar and the Draughtsman gastropub, 1.2 miles north
- Trixie Motel — Trixie Mattel's seven-room maximalist motel, each room its own themed production, 1.5 miles north
- Ace Hotel & Swim Club — a mid-century motor lodge turned resort with the Amigo Room and King's Highway diner, 1.6 miles south
- The Saguaro — the rainbow resort with a palm-lined pool and weekend drag brunch, 1.8 miles south
Airbnb & Vacation Rentals
Palm Springs is a vacation-rental town — mid-century houses with private pools are everywhere, and a group of six splitting one often beats four hotel rooms. Two things to know: the city caps and licenses short-term rentals, so book from a listing with a visible permit number, and confirm the pool is heated if you're there for the shoulder-season evenings.
Getting There & Getting Around
From the Airport
Palm Springs International (PSP) is about two miles from downtown — roughly a ten-minute ride to either host hotel. Both host hotels run an airport shuttle — the Hilton's is complimentary, and Hotel Zoso's runs 24/7 and is covered by the resort fee. It's a small airport with limited direct service, so fares climb the closer you book to the date.
Driving In
Palm Springs is roughly a two-hour drive from Los Angeles and about two and a half from San Diego without traffic, on I-10. Friday afternoon eastbound out of LA is the worst window; leaving before noon or after 7 PM saves real time.
Parking & Getting Around
The Hilton charges $30 per vehicle on a first-come basis; Hotel Zoso packages include valet for one car. Downtown Palm Springs is flat and compact, and the two host hotels plus the entire Arenas District fit inside a five-minute walk, so a car mostly sits parked. Rideshare covers the Uptown and south Palm Canyon hotels fine, though wait times stretch at 2 AM when the night parties let out at once.
Pro Tip
If you're staying outside downtown, walk two blocks off the hotel driveway before you request a ride at closing — the pickup queue right outside Zoso backs up badly when a thousand people leave at the same time.
The History of The Dinah
The festival is named for Dinah Shore, the singer and TV host who founded a women's golf tournament at Mission Hills Country Club in neighboring Rancho Mirage in 1972 — now the LPGA's Chevron Championship. The party has never been authorized by the Shore estate or the tournament; it just grew up alongside it.
- Late 1980s — women started gathering around the tournament weekend informally, with boomboxes, coolers, and loosely organized after-parties benefiting the Human Rights Campaign and the AIDS Service Foundation
- 1991 — Mariah Hanson produced the first official event, a one-night party at the Palm Springs Art Museum billed as "Club Skirts Presents The Dinah Marquee"
- 1992 — the production expanded to include Sandy Sachs and Dr. Robin Gans; that partnership dissolved in 2005 and competing events followed
- Mid-2000s — The L Word put the weekend on screen in its first season, and attendance doubled the year after: the Saturday party went from about 1,200 to 2,500
- Today — roughly 15,000 people across the weekend
- February 2026 — Hanson handed the festival to BellaRose Productions, run by Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia, who have said they intend to keep the legacy while giving it a refresh
That lineage is why the weekend still gets called "Dinah Shore Weekend" by people who've been coming for twenty years, even though the festival itself now goes by The Dinah.
Other Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Weekends
The Dinah isn't the only weekend that takes over this town.
- Palm Springs Pride — the 40th annual, November 6–8, 2026, with a downtown parade and a two-day festival
- Palm Springs Leather Pride — the desert's leather weekend
- Gay bars in Palm Springs and Gay Friendly hotels if you're planning a trip outside a festival window
When is The Dinah 2026?
The Dinah 2026 runs Wednesday, September 30 through Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Palm Springs, California. The free opening event, Down the Rabbit Hole, is Wednesday night; the closing pool party is Sunday afternoon.
Where is The Dinah held?
Two downtown Palm Springs hotels. The Hilton Palm Springs (400 E Tahquitz Canyon Way) hosts the Welcome Center and all three main pool parties. Hotel Zoso (150 S Indian Canyon Dr) hosts the night parties, the comedy show, and the Play Pool. They are a tenth of a mile apart, about a three-minute walk. The Thursday Opening Party is the one event held off-property, at Hunters on Arenas Road.
Who is performing at The Dinah 2026?
Hayley Kiyoko is headlining, with Da Brat, The Aces, and Sasha Keable also on the music lineup. The comedy show features Cameron Esposito and Pink Foxx, hosted by Abe Farrelly. More names are expected before September, and the festival has not yet announced which artist performs on which night.
How much are tickets to The Dinah?
The festival sells weekend passes, a shorter "Dinah Quickie," single-event tickets, and two-night hotel packages that bundle a room at the Hilton or Hotel Zoso with resort fees and taxes included. Everything is sold through thedinah.com, and prices step up as the date gets closer rather than staying flat.
Is The Dinah only for women?
The Dinah is produced as a festival for lesbian, sapphic, and non-binary attendees, and that's overwhelmingly who is there. It isn't a gated event — allies and partners attend — but the programming, the marketing, and the crowd are all built around women, which is exactly why people travel for it.
What should I pack for The Dinah?
Swimwear for three straight days, because the pool parties are the core of the weekend. A black-and-white outfit for Friday's Ball and something dressier for Saturday's Hollywood Party. Sun protection is not optional — early October in the desert still runs into the 90s with limited shade on a packed pool deck. Nights cool off, so bring one layer.
Is Palm Springs walkable during The Dinah?
Downtown is. Both host hotels, the entire Arenas District bar strip, and most of the downtown restaurants sit inside a five-minute walk of each other, and the city is flat. If you stay Uptown or on south Palm Canyon you'll rideshare to the parties — figure five to ten minutes each way, longer at closing time.
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Robbie S.
I'm Robbie, the founder of Out x Out. I'm from Minneapolis, though I'm spending 2026 building this community from the road — somewhere between South America and Asia. The idea for Out x Out came from a trip to Berlin, where the gay nightlife calendar was years ahead of ours: you could see not just where to go out, but which night to go — so naturally I wanted that kind of insider info for every city in the US (and beyond... eventually). I'm more of a behind-the-scenes type, but the whole point of this is connection: I'd take one real one over a hundred surface-level ones, and I'm trying to build that for the community, city by city.
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