After 35 groundbreaking years, The Dinah — the world’s most iconic and longest-running music festival and party for queer women — is stepping into a new chapter.
Founder and producer Mariah Hanson has officially sold the legendary Palm Springs-based event to queer event producer and longtime Dinah Operations Manager Bella Barkow and seasoned Dinah emcee, reality TV personality, and real estate entrepreneur Rose Garcia. The acquisition ensures the festival remains independently owned, community-led, and deeply rooted in LGBTQ+ culture under the newly formed BellaRose Productions.
For more than three decades, The Dinah has stood in a league of its own — a cultural phenomenon that transcended party status to become a rite of passage for queer women around the globe. What began as a bold vision in Palm Springs evolved into an internationally recognized celebration of visibility, freedom, and unapologetic joy.
Now, its future is passed on to two women who know it intimately.
Garcia — the real-life inspiration for “Papi” on The L Word and a fan favorite from The Real L Word — brings star power, business acumen, and unwavering LGBTQ+ advocacy to her new role as co-owner. A prominent Latina lesbian entrepreneur and Stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor now in remission, Garcia has long used her platform to amplify queer visibility while leading her successful Garcia Real Estate Group.
Barkow’s connection to The Dinah runs equally deep. With a career spanning Toronto’s rave scene to major California LGBTQ+ festivals including LA Pride and Outloud, she joined The Dinah team in 2018, rising from Pool Party Stage Manager to Operations Manager. Her operational expertise and personal connection to the festival — which she once viewed as a safe haven after coming out at 13 — position her uniquely to guide its evolution.
Together, Barkow and Garcia promise a thoughtful balance of tradition and innovation, preserving the spirit Mariah Hanson built while infusing it with fresh energy for a new generation.
The excitement begins with The Dinah’s milestone 35th edition. It’s official: The Dinah 2026 will take place September 30 through October 4, returning to the Hilton Hotel and The Zoso in Palm Springs. The full program and entertainment lineup will be announced in June, with additional details rolling out in the months ahead.
In an era when few queer women-centered events survive — let alone thrive — this landmark transition secures The Dinah’s place not only in Palm Springs history, but in LGBTQ+ cultural history.
The Dinah
September 30 through October 4, 2026