“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” The quote, often attributed to Marilyn Monroe, perfectly captures the spirit of this one-of-a-kind upcoming celebration in one of SoCal’s most iconic desert cities.
Palm Springs will host Marilyn 100, a celebration honoring Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, featuring a Guinness World Record attempt to gather 500 people dressed as the icon and open to anyone who wants to take part.
The event brings the city into the spotlight with a public tribute that leans heavily into her enduring cultural legacy and Hollywood mythology.
How to join Marilyn 100
The event will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Downtown Park around the “Forever Marilyn” statue, from 3 PM to 9 PM. Participation requires a $75 registration fee, which includes an “Icon Kit” featuring:
- White “subway” dress.
- Stylized platinum blonde wig.
- Visit Palm Springs cat-eye sunglasses.
- Martini glass.
The park will feature live music performances, food vendors, and beverage activations throughout the afternoon. Between 4:30 PM and 6 PM, officials will conduct the World Record certification attempt, as participants gather to create a large-scale visual tribute of Marilyn Monroe look-alikes.
The celebration continues until 9 PM with live bands, DJ sets, and special guest performances.
The current Marilyn Monroe look-alike world record
The largest gathering of people dressed as Marilyn Monroe currently stands at 254 participants, a record achieved by the Marilyn Jetty Swim Team in Brighton, Australia, on February 2, 2020, according to Guinness World Records.
To make the record official, participants recreated one of five iconic Marilyn Monroe looks, including the instantly recognizable white dress from Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch (1955).
