White Party Palm Springs: A Local's Guide to the Weekend

White Party Palm Springs is a multi-day LGBTQ+ dance party weekend founded in 1989 by Jeffrey Sanker, and for decades it was the biggest party on the city's calendar. The 2025 edition was canceled, organizers teased a return for 2026, and as of this October 2026 update we haven't seen confirmed dates for the next one. If you're planning around it, build a flexible Palm Springs weekend getaway and keep our Palm Springs gay nightlife guide handy for the nights in between.

What is White Party Palm Springs?

Think three days of pool parties, themed night parties and a big Sunday tea dance, with thousands of guests dressed mostly in white. Jeffrey Sanker started it in 1989, and it grew into one of the largest LGBTQ+ dance music events in the country. Sanker died in 2021, and in 2023 he received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

The format has shifted over the years, but a classic White Party weekend looked something like this:

• Friday: A themed welcome night.

• Saturday: The main party, usually the longest night of the weekend.

• Sunday: An afternoon T-dance that runs into the evening.

Is White Party happening?

Here's what we know, in order:

• January 2025: Organizers announced they would take 2025 off, saying Sanker's original goal of creating a safe space had largely been met.

• December 2025: The official website and social pages posted a "Coming in 2026" teaser. Local news reported the city hadn't been told about a return.

• Mid-2026: No dated schedule, ticket program or venue list had been published.

So the honest answer is: watch the official White Party channels, and don't book anything nonrefundable until dates and tickets are public. Historically the party has landed on a spring weekend, sometimes around Easter and sometimes in late April or early May.

What is White Party weekend like in Palm Springs?

Busy. The whole town feels it, not only the people with wristbands.

• Restaurants fill up. Book dinner downtown the moment you have dates.

• Arenas Road is packed. The bars run at full volume all weekend.

• Pool parties start early. Daytime is half the event, so a good pool at home matters.

• Rideshares surge. Late-night pickups after the big parties take longer and cost more. Plan for it.

• The heat is real. Spring afternoons can be very warm. Drink water between the cocktails and wear sunscreen at the pool parties.

How to plan a White Party trip

1. Follow the official White Party accounts and sign up for updates.

2. Line up your group and budget before dates drop, so you can move fast.

3. Book your stay first, then flights, then dinners.

4. Plan the daytime too. Brunch is part of the weekend, and our Palm Springs drag brunch guide lists the shows to book.

5. Stock up before you arrive. Our Stock the Fridge add-on means drinks and snacks are waiting when you walk in.

Where to stay for White Party weekend

Nine suites. Nine bathrooms. One pool. And nobody else invited.

For a group, a Muse hotel buyout is the cleanest way to do it. You get all nine suites and nine bathrooms for up to 22 overnight guests, with the courtyard pool private to your group, a six-person hot tub, pergola swings and an outdoor fireplace for the late-night debrief. There's no bar minimum and no required event package. Music is welcome at reasonable volumes until 10PM, which works out well, since the loud part of the night happens elsewhere.

The Muse is an LGBTQ+ friendly, adults-only boutique hotel minutes from downtown by car. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included. Comparing your options? Our guide to gay friendly hotels in Palm Springs explains how the different stays work.

TAKE OVER THE MUSE

Other LGBTQ+ weekends in Palm Springs

No White Party on the calendar yet? Palm Springs has plenty else:

• Greater Palm Springs Pride: November 6 to 8 in 2026, with the parade on Palm Canyon Drive on Sunday and the Arenas Block Party nearby.

• The Dinah: A big weekend for queer women, held in fall in 2026.

• Every weekend: Drag brunch, Arenas Road and a pool day. That's the formula.

White Party FAQ

When is White Party Palm Springs?

Dates for the next edition hadn't been confirmed as of October 2026. Historically it has been held over a spring weekend.

Was White Party canceled?

The 2025 edition was canceled. Organizers later teased a return for 2026, but no dated schedule had been published as of mid-2026.

Who started White Party Palm Springs?

Jeffrey Sanker founded it in 1989. He died in 2021 and received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2023.

How many people can stay at The Muse for White Party weekend?

Up to 22 overnight guests on a full hotel buyout, across nine suites with nine bathrooms.

Is The Muse adults-only?

Yes. The Muse is adults-only, and all guests on a full hotel buyout must be 21 or older.

Dates or no dates, the pool is ready. Wear white if you want to.