The Dinah festival producer Mariah Hanson decided to go out with a bang. For her Dinah Grand Finale, the founder of the world’s iconic queer women’s festival dropped an impressive lineup of entertainment ranging from queer icons to aspiring LGBTQ+ talent. The festival is scheduled for Sept. 24-28 in Palm Springs.
The Dinah is an annual monumental five-day weekend of live concerts and pool parties with top female DJ tastemakers and artists from music, film and television.
Monday’s announcement kicked off with The L Word stars Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey. From The Dinah:
It’s only fitting that Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey—the iconic stars of The L Word, the groundbreaking series that forever linked The Dinah to queer culture around the globe—will be returning to celebrate this milestone moment.
In a deeply emotional full-circle gesture, they’ll grace The Saturday Pool Party, where it all began, to sign their new book So Gay for You and share intimate moments with fans. Only 150 exclusive signed copies will be available at The Dinah, making this a truly rare and treasured keepsake.
And for Saturday night’s main event — expect the unexpected as the duo will be making a very special appearance that fans won’t want to miss.
Music performances will include gender-nonconforming queer rapper Princess Nokia. She performed at the 2023 festival and will headline the Friday night lineup.
“As one of today’s most magnetic rappers, she’ll bring her trademark energy, commanding presence, an electrifying performance — and plenty of show-stopping fashion moments on The Dinah red carpet. Her headlining appearance comes on the heels of her highly anticipated 7th studio album, Girls — a deeply personal celebration of growth, healing, and the fullest expression of who she is today. After nearly a decade as a leader and icon for outsiders and misfits, the New York-born Puerto Rican MC, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, style icon, actress, and activist Princess Nokia continues to speak up and speak out. She may have been born Destiny Frasqueri, but today, Princess Nokia is a symbol of possibility.”
The festival also brings back Dinah favorites Xana and Mariah Counts along with performances by club music icon Crystal Waters, alt-pop singer SkyDxddy on Saturday.
The Pool Party lineup will feature breakthrough artists Nikki Holland, Icey.Xo, Velvet Dive and Only1 Theory.
Rose Garcia returns as host but will be joined this year by Kaycee Clark of CBS’s Big Brother and MTV’s The Challenge. The DJ lineup will include P. Nasty, Les Ortiz, Lotus Banks, KG Fresh, Tatiana and Alex D.
The Dinah went from a weekend event at a Palm Springs museum with 1,500 participants to lavish locations over ive days with 10,000-plus attendees taking over Palm Springs. Past headliners and celebrities in attendance have included The Pussycat Dolls with Nicole Sherzinger, Jane Lynch, Ilene Chaiken, Uh Huh Her, SWV, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
Learn more or book your visit at TheDinah.com.
–Rich Lopez