Palm Springs, CA
After 35 years as the world’s longest-running and most iconic music festival and party for LGBTQ women, The Dinah has entered a new chapter. Founder and producer Mariah Hanson has sold the legendary Palm Springs–based event to queer event producer and longtime Dinah Operations Manager Bella Barkow and veteran Dinah emcee, reality television personality, and real estate entrepreneur Rose Garcia.
The acquisition ensures that The Dinah remains independently owned, community-led, and firmly rooted in LGBTQ+ culture. The festival will now operate under BellaRose Productions, a newly formed company founded by Barkow and Garcia. Organizers say the transition represents both continuity and evolution for an institution that has shaped queer women’s spaces for more than three decades.
Few LGBTQ+ events, particularly those centered on queer women, have matched The Dinah’s cultural impact, longevity, and commercial success. The sale marks a significant moment in LGBTQ+ cultural history, keeping ownership within the Dinah family while positioning the event for future growth.
Garcia and Barkow bring complementary experience and deep institutional knowledge to their new roles. Garcia, the real-life inspiration for the character “Papi” on The L Word, is a fan favorite from The Real L Word and a prominent Latina lesbian entrepreneur. She leads Garcia Real Estate Group and has been featured in Newsweek, BuzzFeed, Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, and HGTV’s House Hunters. A Stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor now in remission, Garcia has also served as an emcee for The Dinah and other major queer events.
Pictured: Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia
Barkow brings extensive large-scale event production experience, from Toronto rave culture to major California festivals. Her background includes producing LGBTQ+ nightlife events in West Hollywood, organizing queer women–focused programming, and working on major events such as LA Pride and the Outloud Festival. She joined The Dinah in 2018, rising from Pool Party Stage Manager to Operations Manager, and is widely credited with her behind-the-scenes leadership and operational expertise.
“I’ve been to over 20 Dinah events, and each one has been unforgettable,” Garcia said. “Keeping The Dinah in the family ensures Mariah’s legacy lives on. Bella and I share the same deep love and dedication for this festival, and I know her vision is safe with us.”
Barkow called the transition deeply personal. “The Dinah has been a cornerstone of queer culture for decades,” she said. “Coming out at 13 in the late ’90s wasn’t easy, but seeing The Dinah on The L Word made it feel less scary. This festival was my safe space, and my hope is that we keep it alive for the next generation.”
Under their joint leadership, organizers say the festival will preserve the elements that made The Dinah a global phenomenon while introducing new ideas and energy. That next phase begins with the festival’s 35th edition.
The Dinah 2026 is scheduled for September 30 through October 4, returning to the Hilton Hotel and Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs. The full entertainment lineup and programming details are expected to be announced in June.
The transition also cements the legacy of Hanson, whose stewardship transformed The Dinah from a bold idea into a globally recognized rite of passage for queer women. Over three decades, the festival garnered national and international media attention, appeared in television and documentary projects, and became synonymous with LGBTQ+ visibility, freedom, and celebration.
“Rose and Bella are the perfect duo to take over The Dinah,” Hanson said. “Through their big hearts, business acumen, and commitment to preserving what is most beloved about The Dinah, I’m excited to watch them take it to new heights. The Dinah is my life’s work, and knowing it will continue to be a beacon of hope for our community leaves my heart full.”
In an era when few queer women-centered events survive, let alone thrive, the sale ensures that The Dinah’s story continues — not as a closing chapter, but as the beginning of a new one.
For updates and announcements, visit www.TheDinah.com and follow The Dinah on social media.