Aubrey O’Day, the Cowgays to headline 40th annual Palm Springs Pride celebration
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Aubrey O’Day, recording artist and television personality, and country supergroup The Cowgays have been announced as headliners for the for the 40th annual Palm Springs Pride celebration.
Organizers said the two acts offer an early look at a diverse entertainment lineup being assembled for the milestone celebration.
Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks, bringing together regional favorites, emerging artists, and diverse talent from across the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Across three stages, Pride weekend will feature live music, drag entertainment, DJs, and special performances spanning a range of genres and styles, all in downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District.
Aubrey O’Day rose to national prominence as a founding member of the multi-platinum pop group Danity Kane, formed through MTV’s Making the Band. The group made history when its first two albums debuted consecutively at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. O’Day later co-founded the alternative dance-pop duo dumblonde and has continued to build a career spanning music, television, Broadway, performance and creative direction.
Joining O’Day as a 2026 headliner are The Cowgays, the country supergroup featuring Adam Mac, Brooke Eden and Chris Housman. The Nashville-based trio brings together three distinctive voices in contemporary country music inspired by the ’90s country they grew up with and reimagined through a proudly queer lens. Their live performances combine three-part harmonies, musicianship, humor, theatricality, and an unmistakable sense of Pride.
What began in 1986 has grown into the region’s largest annual LGBTQ+ gathering and a signature Palm Springs celebration now featuring 40th-anniversary headliners chosen to bring together a diverse range of artists and audiences.
“For 40 years, Palm Springs Pride has been built by people who believe everyone deserves a place where they can show up exactly as they are and know they are part of something bigger,” said Jasmine Sullivan Waits, Executive Director of Greater Palm Springs Pride. “At a time when nonprofits and community celebrations everywhere are navigating a more challenging economic environment, we remain committed to what makes Palm Springs Pride special: keeping this celebration free, welcoming, and accessible to everyone. ‘Be Included’ is our promise that no matter the challenges, we will continue creating a place where our community can gather, celebrate, be seen, and experience joy together.”
This year’s theme, “Be Included,” is both an invitation and a call to action. It reflects Pride’s commitment to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ people and allies are not simply welcomed, but actively included, represented, and celebrated. That commitment extends to the festival itself. Palm Springs Pride is free and open to everyone, allowing residents and visitors to experience the weekend’s entertainment, festival marketplace, community organizations, and celebrations without purchasing an admission ticket.
The 40th anniversary celebration will take over downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District November 6–8, culminating with the Palm Springs Pride Parade on Sunday, November 8. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. along Palm Canyon Drive.
News Channel 3 is a proud sponsor of Pride. We will broadcast the parade on News Channel 3 and our website.
More entertainment announcements, including the complete roster of performers and stage schedules, will be released in the coming weeks.
For festival information, updates, and ways to support Palm Springs Pride, visit pspride.org.
