Palm Springs Leather Pride™ 2026, themed “VALHALLA,” is presented by the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert (PSLOD). In his official welcome address, PSLOD President David Dunn issues a rousing call to community members across the globe, inviting them to assemble in the desert oasis to celebrate with intensity, curiosity, and unconditional mutual support.
“As always, we have many diverse events scheduled to make your Palm Springs Leather Pride™ experience more memorable than ever. This year we’re calling our celebration VALHALLA, harkening all of you leather vikings and valkyries to come together in the mead hall to celebrate with ferocity and abandon.”
Dunn emphasizes an ongoing organizational commitment to broaden the event’s cultural and fetish scope, encouraging attendees to push past traditional boundaries and engage openly with every facet of kink:
“As we become increasingly more diverse as a community, you will see that we are focused on inclusion and making every effort to extend our reach to as many facets of Kink and Fetish as possible. We encourage you to be curious. Ask questions. Explore, experience and enjoy!”
Addressing the political and social pressures currently facing the LGBTQIA+ and leather communities, Dunn underscores the vital role that communal gatherings play in maintaining solidarity and strength during turbulent times:
“This year in particular, we invite you to celebrate and support our diverse and world-wide community. As the storm swirls around us, and we seem increasingly under siege, we need each other more than ever. I think of Leather Pride as part of the glue that keeps our family together, strong and resilient.”
Signature Parties and Evening Events
The weekend’s party slate begins Thursday evening with the Official Welcome Party at Hunters Nightclub, serving as a homecoming kickoff where the new class of Mr. Palm Springs Leather contestants is formally introduced. Late-night programming continues Thursday with BATE in The Catacombs at Hotel Zoso, a ticketed jack-off event presented in association with Palm Springs Jacks. On Friday and Saturday afternoons, festival-goers gather at CCBC Resort for PLUNGE, a clothing-optional pool party featuring themed play spaces. Friday evening also features The Fellowship Leather Dinner & Auction at Hotel Zoso, an indoor and outdoor buffet reception with auctions and a rooftop cigar space. Additionally, across both Friday and Saturday nights, the Dark Alley Marketplace transforms The Tool Shed into an outdoor night-market filled with leather vendors, artisans, and food.
Saturday afternoon introduces targeted specialty socials, including Unleashed: Pup & Pet Party at Chill Bar—equipped with play mats, a ball pit, and toys—and The Official Cigar Social at the all-new Eagle, featuring a wide selection of top-shelf whiskies and bourbons. On Saturday evening, the main stage features the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2027 Contest at Hotel Zoso alongside the debut of the Mr. Palm Springs Boot Black Contest. Nightlife reaches its peak late Saturday with GO DEEP!, the official dungeon and play party in The Catacombs at Hotel Zoso. Finally, the festivities conclude on Sunday with The Official Victory Party and Beer Bust at The Eagle to honor the newly sashed titleholders and toast the end of the weekend.
Event Schedule
| Event Name | Day & Time | Venue & Address | Admission & Logistics |
| Registration & Info Hub | Thursday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO (Encore Lobby, 2nd Fl) 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | Free Access (Package pick-up, local advice, gear/tickets) |
| Silent Auction Viewing | Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO Lobby 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | Free Access (Bidding benefits PSLOD community funds) |
| Sober Welcome Mixer | Thursday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO Restaurant 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | Free Access (Complimentary pizza & nonalcoholic drinks) |
| Official Welcome Party | Thursday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Hunters Nightclub 302 E Arenas Rd, Palm Springs | Non-Ticketed / Donations Welcome (Cash Bar; 2027 contestant introductions) |
| BATE (Jacks Party) | Thursday: 9:00 PM – 12:30 AM / 1:00 AM | Catacombs at Hotel ZOSO (Lower Level) 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | $25 Door / Advance (Not in Packages) (Strict Rules: Consent, No lips below hips, No penetration) |
| Eisenhower Speaker Series (4 Sessions) | Friday: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM & 2:30 PM–4:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM & 2:30 PM–4:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | Non-Ticketed ($10 Suggested Donation) (Health, fisting, shame recovery, consent seminars) |
| PLUNGE Pool Party #1 | Friday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | CCBC Resort 68300 Gay Resort Dr, Cathedral City | $60 Door / Advance (Cash Bar) MANDATORY RULE: CLEAR BAGS ONLY |
| Rawhide & Rope BDSM Demos | Friday & Saturday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Dicks on Arenas / Catacombs at ZOSO 301 E Arenas Rd, Palm Springs | Free Access (Live rope & BDSM educational floor demos) |
| Dark Alley Marketplace #1 | Friday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Tool Shed 600 E Sunny Dunes Rd, Palm Springs | $15 Door / Advance (Cash Bar / Food) (Vendor contact: rcole1234@att.net) |
| Fellowship Cocktail & Dinner | Friday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | $150 Door / Advance (Sit-down buffet, reduced well cash bar, auctions, cigar roof) |
| Poolside Leather Yoga | Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Hotel ZOSO (Poolside) 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | Non-Ticketed ($10 Suggested Donation)(100% proceeds to PS Test Clinic; bring mat) |
| PLUNGE Pool Party #2 | Saturday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | CCBC Resort 68300 Gay Resort Dr, Cathedral City | $60 Door / Advance (Cash Bar) MANDATORY RULE: CLEAR BAGS ONLY |
| Unleashed Pup & Pet Party | Saturday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM | Chill Bar 217 E Arenas Rd, Palm Springs | $25 Door / Advance (Mats, ball pit, toys; knee/elbow pads recommended) |
| Official Cigar Social | Saturday: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | The Eagle 67625 E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City | $20 Door / Advance LOGISTICS: Credit/Debit/Tap Bar ONLY (No Cash) |
| Mr. PS Leather Contest & Boot Black Debut | Saturday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM / 9:00 PM | Hotel ZOSO (Ballroom) 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | $70 Door / Advance (Cash Bar; Seated by 5:45 PM) (IML Qualifier + Inaugural Boot Black Contest) |
| Dark Alley Marketplace #2 | Saturday: 5:00 PM / 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Tool Shed 600 E Sunny Dunes Rd, Palm Springs | Non-Ticketed / Donations Welcome (Cash Bar / Food; setup 5 PM, main market 7 PM) |
| GO DEEP! Dungeon / Play Party | Saturday: 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM / 2:00 AM | Catacombs at Hotel ZOSO (Lower Level) 150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs | $60 Door / Advance (Not in Packages) (Official dungeon/play party; no dance floor) |
| Victory Party & Beer Bust | Sunday: 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM | The Eagle 67625 E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City | $5 Door Admission (Cash Beer Bust; meet 2027 titleholders) |
Historic Community Milestone: Honey Davenport’s IML Victory
The 2026 VALHALLA celebration serves as a victory lap for the local leather community following a historic milestone: Honey Davenport’s landmark win at the International Mr. Leather (IML) competition in Chicago as Mr. Palm Springs Leather. Internationally celebrated for her artistry on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11, Davenport shattered long-standing subcultural glass ceilings by becoming the first drag performer in history to capture the global IML title.
Davenport’s historic title run was anchored by her defining philosophy that “leather is drag and drag is a kink.” Her reign represents a transformative synthesis of high-glam artistry, grassroots activism, and fearless self-expression. By unifying two iconic queer subcultures on the world stage, Davenport elevated Palm Springs from a regional haven into a primary global epicentre of modern queer and kink evolution.
Inclusion, Wellness, and Recovery Program
Acknowledging that authentic community celebration requires safe, inclusive spaces for sober attendees, Palm Springs Leather Pride™ integrates dedicated recovery programming throughout the weekend, anchored at the Hotel ZOSO Restaurant:
- Sober @ Leather Pride Welcome Mixer: Held Thursday, October 29, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Hotel ZOSO Restaurant in Palm Springs. This welcoming, informal gathering features free pizza and nonalcoholic beverages, offering a low-pressure environment to forge sober friendships, connect with “Sober Buddies,” and access local recovery resources across the Leather, Fetish, Kink, and S&M communities.
- Leather in Recovery Meetings (“On the 10s”): Peer-led open recovery meetings are held at the Hotel ZOSO Restaurant space throughout the weekend. Meetings are scheduled “on the 10s” (10:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily) and are open to all attendees and local desert residents navigating recovery within the kink lifestyle.
Eisenhower Health Educational Speaker Series
In partnership with Eisenhower Health, leading medical professionals deliver four specialized educational workshops at Hotel ZOSO aimed at promoting harm reduction, physical safety, and psychological wellness within the kink community. All sessions are non-ticketed, with a $10 suggested donation at the door.
- Substance Use & Kink Culture / Chem Sex / Kink & Recovery
- Time: Friday, October 30 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Description: An expert-led panel examining the intersection of substance use and sexual play among men who have sex with men. The session addresses health risks, psychological drivers such as shame or loneliness, and practical pathways to accessible addiction recovery services.
- Anal and Fisting Play 101 & Beyond
- Time: Friday, October 30 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Description: A comprehensive safety and technique workshop covering the mechanics of extreme anal play. Topics include anatomical awareness, “hole-istic” preparation, positioning techniques, double penetration, and essential post-scene aftercare.
- Removing Shame & Guilt in Leather, Kink, & Fetish Activities
- Time: Saturday, October 31 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Description: A therapeutic panel addressing internalized stigma and social guilt associated with fetish expression. Panelists offer actionable psychological strategies for shedding shame to cultivate an authentic, healthy self-image.
- What Does Consent Look Like: (Probably Not What You Think)
- Time: Saturday, October 31 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Description: An interactive exploration of active, enthusiastic, and ongoing consent. Moving beyond the passive absence of “No,” the session analyzes real-world verbal and body language nuances across interpersonal, medical, and digital boundary-setting scenarios.