The Sundance Film Festival, a cultural and economic cornerstone of Utah for more than four decades, will relocate to Boulder, Colorado, beginning in 2027.
The Sundance Institute announced Thursday that Boulder was chosen after a yearlong evaluation process that included Salt Lake City among the three finalists. The move ends Park City's 40-plus year reign as the festival's home.
Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Institute in 1981, expressed gratitude to Utah while acknowledging the need for change.
“I founded the Sundance Institute with a commitment to discovering and developing independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival serving as the platform for stories to help expand audiences and broaden the landscape,” Redford said in the statement. “That mission remains even more critical today and will continue to be our core principle. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization. What we've created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. This move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Festival there.”
The 2026 festival will be the last in Utah, scheduled for Jan. 22 - Feb. 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City.
The move is likely to result in a significant economic loss for the state.
