You know those moments in queer culture that make you feel like you’re part of something bigger? This is one of them. The Dinah – aka one of the world’s most iconic festivals for queer women, non-binary peeps and FLINTA* royalty – is gearing up for its grand finale with Mariah Hanson as the producer. Yep, Mariah, the legendary mastermind behind the Palm Springs long weekender, is bowing out after three decades of building the queer utopia we all so very much needed. And she’s doing it with an all-out, unapologetically queer, star-studded bang.
The Dinah Line Up 2025
Taking place from the 24th September – 29th September 2025, The Dinah has an epic line-up. We’re talking L Word legends Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, queer rap goddess Princess Nokia, dance floor queen Crystal Waters (shout out to the 80s and 90s babies), alt-pop disruptor SkyDxddy, heartbreak serenader Xana, and returning sweetheart Mariah Counts, just to name a few. Plus, we’re proud to be a media partner again this year, so we will be there. If you see us poolside (or by the bar), come say hi and grab some Nonchalant merch while you’re at it.
As it’s Mariah Hanson’s last dance as the producer behind The Dinah, she’s making sure this year goes down in history. It’s giving end-of-an-era, but make it euphoric. She’s pulled together a lineup that’s part reunion, part revolution – a celebration of legacy and a love letter to the community she’s helped shape. Here’s a rundown in more detail.
Kate Moennig & Leisha Hailey
And it wouldn’t be a proper send-off without Kate & Leisha, the duo who helped etch The Dinah into queer TV lore via The L Word. This year, they’ll be at the Saturday Pool Party signing their book So Gay For You (only 150 copies available – you’ve been warned) and, let’s just say, they’re not just here to tan. They’ll also be doing “something special” on Saturday night. The exact what? You’ll have to be there to find out. Cryptic much? Yes. Do we love the suspense? Also yes.
Princess Nokia
Friday night, Princess Nokia returns to headline – fresh off dropping her seventh studio album Girls. Whether she’s rapping about identity, healing, rage, or love, she’s never not bringing fire and fashion. Expect stage presence, energy, and a lot of queer screaming from the crowd.
Crystal Waters
Saturday night, Crystal Waters will be on stage, and we’re extremely excited to watch her perform “Gypsy Woman”. She’s a Dinah alum with club legend status, and we’re fully prepared to dance like it’s 1994 again.
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SkyDxddy
Joining Crystal Waters on the Saturday night is the genre-blurring SkyDxddy, who’s racked up 150 million+ streams with emotional bangers that punch you right in the feelings. Expect big vocals, big energy, and possibly a few tears on the dancefloor.
XANA
The alt-pop artist blends raw emotion with queer storytelling, serving up heartbreak anthems and sapphic bangers in equal measure. With a voice that cuts deep and lyrics that hit harder, she’s become a rising star in the music scene – and a total crowd favourite at The Dinah. Check out our interview with XANA back in 2021.
Mariah Counts
Mariah Counts is the human embodiment of main character energy. A soulful powerhouse with a rock-pop edge, she’s known for pouring raw emotion and unapologetic queerness into every performance. A Dinah fave for good reason.
New kids on the block include Nikki Holland, Icey.Xo, Velvet Dive, and Only1 Theory – all ready to queer the stage and deliver bold, unapologetic performances for the new generation of Dinah-goers.
And let’s not forget the ones keeping us moving between sets: queer DJ royalty DJ P. Nasty, DJ Les Ortiz, DJ Lotus Banks, DJ KG Fresh, DJ Tatiana, and DJ Alex D. will be serving beats, bangers, and poolside serotonin all weekend long.
OG Dinah queen Rose Garcia (The Real L Word) is back to emcee the fun, this time with Kaycee Clark (you’ll know her from Big Brother and The Challenge) by her side.
Tickets
Get them. Now. Don’t wait for your mates to faff around in the group chat. Get The Dinah Tickets. And once your tickets are secured, read our guide on how to do The Dinah in style.
See you in the pool,
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
