Sundance is Officially Moving To A New Location

BREAKING: The Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado. The festival, formerly held in Park City, Utah, had been looking for a new venue for expansion.

Many cities threw their hats into the ring, but Boulder has emerged victorious. The official move will not take place until 2027, but it will surely be a different festival.

The festival reached a 10 year-deal with city officials, so it will be in Boulder at least until 2037.

Why Did They Move from Park City?

Sundance organizers have cited financial pressures and concerns about the accessibility of Park City as key reasons for exploring a potential relocation.

There are concerns that Park City has become too exclusive. And Utah's laws were complex when it came to throwing a party with liquor. Then you had ski season, which already made the town very expensive, and conflicts with Sundance, rising rental prices, and making studios spend a lot of money in order to send people there.

There were a lot of issues piling up, and the Sundance festival only wanted to get bigger, something that the small town of Park City could not expand to provide.

In a statement, Robert Redford expressed gratitude to the state of Utah and also explained the move.

He said, “What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining.” He continued, “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.”

Why Boulder, Colorado?

Boulder will retain the wintery vibes people have come to love, and the city put forth a good plan for how they can house the thousands of people and press who descend on the city for the festival every year.

“One of the things that we also thought about is one of Robert Redford’s founding principles, which is this notion of making sure that the festival has a sense of space and a sense of place,” said Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute’s acting CEO.

She continued, “One of the things that you’ll see when you walk around [Boulder] is we are surrounded by this breathtaking Flat Iron Mountain Range, and it’s truly an incredible vibe. So when you’re walking from theater to theater, you’ll really get this opportunity to sort of metabolize what you just watched while convening in nature.”

“Colorado is thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to its new home in Boulder starting in 2027,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Here in our state we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture. Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants. Thank you to the Sundance Institute and all of the partners like the City of Boulder, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and I also want to thank the bipartisan legislators and leadership who have worked tirelessly to make this possible.”

“We are deeply honored that Boulder has been selected to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027,” said Charlene Hoffman, Visit Boulder CEO. “Creativity, innovation, and expression are at the heart of what makes Boulder special, and we’re ready to welcome storytellers and cinema lovers from around the world. Our walkable downtown, iconic venues, and beautiful landscape at the base of the Rocky Mountains sets the stage for the Sundance Film Festival to flourish in its next chapter. It’s been a remarkable experience getting to share our vibrant community with the Sundance Institute and we eagerly await the Festival’s debut in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with excitement and gratitude.”

This is a huge development, and we'll keep you updated as more transpires.

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