It’s official: After more than 40 years in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival is heading to a new location. Starting in January 2027, the festival will begin to take place in Boulder, Colorado. The Sundance Institute made the official announcement after a long search that considered over 100 potential host cities. 

Boulder stood out to the committee because of its vibrant art scene, small town charm, and the natural beauty. The festival will center around the city’s walkable downtown, specifically the friendly Pearl Street Mall, and will collaborate with the University of Colorado Boulder. Venues will include theaters and performance spaces throughout the city, including the amazing Macky Auditorium Concert Hall.

“Boulder offers small-town charm with an engaged community, distinctive natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene, making it the ideal location for the Festival to grow,” the Sundance Institute said in a statement.

Since 1985, the festival has been held in Park City, where it grew into the global event we now know it as. Founded by actor and filmmaker Robert Redford, the Sundance Institute aimed to create a space for independent filmmakers to share their work and create a community of creatives. Sadly, due to rising lodging costs, limited theater space, and a strain on local infrastructure, the festival was prompted to explore new locations. The finalist cities were Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, and Boulder. 

The festival will remain for one last year in Park City, and while the move ends an era of bringing Hollywood to Utah, it also means that a new chapter for future independent film begins in Boulder!