Splash House 2026: A Guide to Palm Springs' Pool Party Festival

Every August, Palm Springs trades its usual quiet desert calm for two weekends of bass-heavy pool parties, and Splash House is the reason why. Now heading into its 13th year, the festival has become the city's signature summer event and if you're planning to be in town for it, a little advance planning goes a long way.

When Splash House Takes Over Palm Springs

Splash House 2026 runs across two weekends: August 7–9 and August 14–16. That two-weekend format is part of what makes it manageable to attend even if you're not a festival-every-weekend kind of traveler, you can pick the weekend that fits your schedule, or make a full week of it and stay for both.

By day, the festival spreads across three Palm Springs resorts with sunlit poolside sets, and by night it shifts to Air Museum parties set among vintage aircraft. For 2026, the hotel lineup has shifted slightly: daytime pool parties are hosted at the Renaissance Palm Springs and The Saguaro Palm Springs, with the Hilton Palm Springs joining as a new host hotel in place of the Riviera Palm Springs, which is undergoing renovations. Public presale for GA passes and hotel packages opens February 17, with GA passes starting at $220 all-in and hotel packages, which include a three-night stay, starting at $352 per person.

Where to Stay If You Want the Party Without Living Inside It

Splash House is loud, crowded, and 21+ by design which is exactly the appeal for a lot of people, and exactly why some festivalgoers prefer a home base a few minutes away from the noise. That's where the Del Marcos Hotel comes in.

Tucked on a quiet stretch of West Baristo Road in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, Del Marcos is close enough to walk, bike, or grab a quick rideshare to any of the host hotels, but far enough that you're not sharing your entire stay with the festival crowd. The hotel's heated saltwater pool is a genuinely good place to recover between sets, no lines, no lounge-chair scramble, just a quiet spot to cool off before heading back out.

Del Marcos also leans into the two-wheeled side of Palm Springs life: complimentary hotel bicycles make the short ride over to the Renaissance or Saguaro an easy one, and mid-century architecture buffs will appreciate cruising past some of the city's best-known homes along the way.

Fueling Up Between Weekends

If you're doing both Splash House weekends, August 7–9 and 14–16, book your room at Del Marcos for the stretch in between too. Several rooms come with kitchenettes, which makes the in-between days easier if you'd rather cook a simple meal than eat out for every meal of a long desert week.

For dinner or a pre-party cocktail, head next door to Azúcar, Del Marcos's sister restaurant at La Serena Villas, where the rooftop bar overlooks the San Jacinto Mountains, a nice contrast to the tarmac-and-bass energy of the Air Museum parties later that night.

Booking Tips

Festival weekends sell out hotel rooms across Palm Springs fast, so don't wait until presale week to lock in a place to stay. Check Del Marcos's current specials and packages for multi-night savings, especially if you're staying three or more nights to cover a full festival weekend. And remember: Splash House is a 21+ event, so double-check age requirements before you finalize plans with a group.