The Dinah is an annual celebration of women and the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s more than just a sun-soaked swirl of music, pools, and nightlife. It’s also empowering, invigorating, and a place to feel a genuine connection.

From September 24-28, visitors from across the globe will travel to Greater Palm Springs for memorable musical performances and unforgettable pool parties. The Dinah, produced by Club Skirts, is celebrating its 34th year. All the events take place at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, which serves as the host hotel.

Here’s everything you need to know about The Dinah. The water’s warm so just dive right in!

A Special Sendoff

The Dinah is the largest lesbian/queer women’s festival in the world, but the 2025 version will mark the end of an era.

It will be the final Dinah produced by the iconic event’s legendary founder Mariah Hanson. She started the event in 1991 and watched it blossom from a weekend party held during the Dinah Shore LPGA golf tournament into a cultural touchstone.

So this year’s event will have all the same poolside revelry and nighttime fun as always, but will also act as a celebration of Hanson’s legacy.

And that starts with a decades-spanning list of headlining artists and DJs, because without the music, there’s no Dinah.

The Headliners

Hanson has shown an incredible knack for finding the next big thing over the years. Look at some of the names that have headlined The Dinah in past years: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Lizzo, Ke$ha, Bebe Rexha, Iggy Azalea, Tegan and Sara, Indigo Girls, Salt-N-Pepa, and Meghan Trainor just to name a few.

So if history is any indicator, look for some of this year’s headliners to be household names in the near future.

Princess Nokia: The New York–born Puerto Rican rapper and MC rocked the Dinah stage in 2023 and is back to headline the Friday night party. Princess Nokia, who also performed at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in 2022, is a singer, songwriter, and style icon who bounces gracefully between rap, soul, rock, and house music.

Crystal Waters: Taking it back to the 1990s as Waters, an iconic voice in the world of dance music who had hits such as “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” and “100% Pure Love,” will headline Saturday night’s party.

SkyDxddy: Waters will be joined that night by SkyDxddy, an up-and-comer in the music world whose raw, emotional anthems have racked up more than 150 million streams and a spot on the Billboard charts. SkyDxddy is the stage name of Skylar DeMarino, a gender fluid, independent hip-hop artist from Virginia.

Only1 Theory: A multi-skilled artist from Baltimore, Only1 Theory is known as a boundary-pusher and is both a creator and producer. She’s worked with the likes of  Yo Gotti, Flo Rida, and Sean Paul and has created her own genre of music called WaveNB, which she will show off at the Friday pool party.

Xana and Mariah Counts: These two belong in the same category because both are back due to popular demand, and as returning champions, if you will, they will grace the pool party with their mix of talent and charisma. Put simply: where they go, a party follows.

Nikki Holland: A new voice at the Dinah pool parties, Holland will bring her unique reggae fusion sound to keep partygoers splashing to the beats.

Icey.Xo: A little R&B and soul to soak in the sunny days poolside at The Dinah. Icey.Xo is a SoCal girl herself, hailing from Inglewood.

Event Schedule and Tickets

These events have individual tickets, but an attendee can buy a festival pass for $326.46, which provides admissions to everything, or a premium pass for $670.71, which includes priority entrance, premium area at pool parties, priority seating when available at evening events, and exclusive lounges and bars.

Wednesday, Sept. 24: The official Dinah pre-party at Chill Bar on Arenas Road from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. This event is complimentary to all attendees. Dancing, mingling, celebrities — the usual good stuff.

Thursday, Sept. 25: The Dinah official opening party is held at Reforma Night Club in Palm Springs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets at the door are $40.

Friday, Sept. 26: The G-Spot Friday Pool Party at The Riviera main pool. Mariah Counts and Only1 Theory will perform. The event is from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $80 at the door.

Friday, Sept. 26: The Black and White Ball featuring headlining concert from Princess Nokia at the Riviera Resort Grand Ballroom. The event is from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m with star-studded red carpet arrivals at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 at the door.

Saturday, Sept. 27: The BIGYAY Pool Party featuring the music of Xana and a book signing by L Word stars Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey. It’s from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m at the Riviera Resort main pool. Tickets are $100 at the door.

Saturday, Sept. 27: The Hollywood Party featuring Crystal Waters, Skydxddy, and more. It’s from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Riviera Grand Ballroom with a celebrity-studded red carpet at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 at the door.

Sunday, Sept. 28: The Lucky Sunday Pool Party. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Riviera Resort Main Pool with Nikki Holland, Icey.xo ,and Velvet Dive set to perform. Tickets are $70 at the door.

Sunday, Sept. 28: The Dinah official Closing Night Party. Back at Reforma Nightclub with some of the nation’s hottest DJs, the event is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and tickets are $40 at the door.

For all the details and to purchase tickets, go to thedinah.com/party-events.

Where to Stay

The Riviera Resort in Palm Springs is the host hotel for The Dinah and as of Aug. 6 there were still rooms available. It’s the ideal place to stay if you want to stay close to the action.

Here are a few more hotel options if you want to venture out a bit:

• Arrive Palm Springs:  You can walk to all The Dinah events from this fun and modern hotel with a pool, restaurant, and poolside bar. 
• Hilton Palm Springs : This hotel is in the heart of Palm Springs and within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. It has a posh pool area with great views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
• Hyatt Palm Springs : This area staple has a splash-worthy pool deck, an outdoor bar/lounge, and private balconies with picturesque views of either the San Jacinto Mountains or downtown Palm Springs.
• Skylark : This restored 28-room midcentury era hotel is anchored by a pool at the center of the property and provides a free buffet breakfast daily.
• The Rowan : The Kimpton Rowan is a fun place to stay because it’s in the heart of downtown Palm Springs and features a seventh-floor rooftop pool, bar, and restaurant with one of the best views of Greater Palm Springs.

Helpful Tips

Take it from someone who has splashed around at The Dinah in years past, there are some key essentials to pack: sunscreen (naturally), multiple swimsuits or pool outfits, and a reusable water bottle. You need to stay hydrated in the heat, especially if you plan to go from pool party by day to dance party by night. 

If you want to take a break from the pools, parties, and the bass beats of the DJs, there is plenty to do and see in Greater Palm Springs.

Check out the Palm Springs Art Museum, get your photo with a 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe statue, and enjoy all the nearby shops and restaurants.

To start planning your getaway, see more on the Greater Palm Springs LGBTQ page and discover plenty to enjoy around town, including hotels, events, and bars, and nightlife options.