Mariah Hanson, Founder Of The Dinah, To Step Down This Year
The world’s largest and longest-running music festival for queer women is moving forward this year with a major announcement.
Mariah Hanson, the legendary founder and producer behind the world’s most renowned LGBTQ+ women’s music festival, The Dinah, has announced that this year will be her final production at the helm after an extraordinary 34 years.
“My final Dinah is deeply personal — a celebration of love, legacy, and the unforgettable moments we’ve created together over the years,” Hanson tells GO. “My staff and I poured our hearts into building something that mattered, and we hope our customers will feel that love and carry it with them, too. While this chapter is closing for me, we’re in conversation with potential buyers, and we’re hopeful the torch will be passed to the right hands—ones that will honor The Dinah’s spirit and legacy, and carry it forward with the same passion and purpose.”
The Dinah, the largest and longest-running music festival for queer women, nonbinary folks, and allies, has been a cultural hub for LGBTQ+ women for decades. Beyond the sexy pool parties and the unforgettable friendships formed, this five-day event is known for its incredible live music lineup. Hanson has proven to have impeccable taste, highlighting artists at the edge of world domination, from Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to Lizzo and Doechii. The Dinah has launched careers, and Hanson has been behind it all.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to help create space where our community could be bold, wild, and unapologetically ourselves,” Hanson says. “I’ve often been asked when I would pass the torch. I never had a specific answer — only that I’d know when the moment felt right. And now, the time is right. It’s time for a new generation to bring their vision, energy, and heart to this legacy and take it even further. That’s my deepest hope.”
After founding The Dinah in 1991 as a grassroots weekend gathering, Hanson has led the festival to global status and cemented herself as a tastemaker along the way. Make no mistake—The Dinah has always been more than a party. It has been, and will continue to be, a haven of empowerment and inclusivity for generations of queer people.
While Hanson has made the decision to step down, The Dinah will continue. Hanson is in talks with potential successors, finding the right partner to ensure the legacy of The Dinah will live on.
“While my Dinah chapter is ending, the future is full of possibility in new hands,” Hanson says. “My hope is that this beloved torch is carried forward — so The Dinah can thrive for another 34 years and beyond.”
Hanson confirms that her final production of The Dinah is set for September 24-28 at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs, and it’s one you don’t want to miss. The “Grand Finale” is marked by the return of The L Word stars Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey. The iconic duo will bring it back to where it all began, appearing at The Saturday Pool Party to sign copies of their highly anticipated new book, So Gay For You. 150 exclusive copies will be signed in person and available for purchase at The Dinah. Moennig and Hailey will also make a special guest appearance at the Saturday Night Party, and Hanson teases that more announcements featuring the duo will be coming soon!
As always, you can expect a powerhouse entertainment lineup from The Dinah. A number of celebrity guests, from chart-topping artists to iconic queer talent, will join Hanson to celebrate her final production. Keep your eyes on thedinah.com for the full entertainment lineup, which drops mid-June. It’s sure to be nothing short of spectacular—just the sendoff that Hanson deserves.
“This last edition isn’t just an event—it’s the culmination of 34 spectacular years of joy, liberation, visibility, and love. Whether you’re returning to relive the magic or experiencing it for the first time, this is your moment to be part of herstory,” says Hanson. “Come raise a glass, dance under the sun, and help write this last, extraordinary chapter with me—a tribute to a journey that changed lives, built community and sparked decades of culture-shifting moments, bold firsts, and unforgettable memories. While I may be taking my final bow, the legacy we’ve built together will live on in every life it’s touched.”
Hanson emplores, if The Dinah has “ever touched your heart, brought you joy, or helped you feel seen,” join her one last time to celebrate the immensely successful and incredibly joyous past 34 years and look forward to The Dinah’s bright future.
