Historic film festival to leave Utah for good.
On February 1st, 2026, the Sundance Film Festival will spend its final day in Park City. The annual event, which showcases independent film making and original storytelling, is pulling out of Utah and moving its operations to Boulder, Colorado.
Although the reasons for the move are multi-faceted, it seems that event leaders felt the annual festival had outgrown the small mountain town with its limited infrastructure and confined space. In contrast, as a large city located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder can easily provide urban amenities and venues while still offering the close-to-nature setting that Sundance goers love.
Before his death, Robert Redford — founder of the Sundance Film Festival — explained the basis for the move this way, “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.”
Additionally, it has been speculated that the move may, in part, be due to Utah’s passing of HB77, which prohibits the display of Pride and other “political” flags in public institutions. The amendment, which is seen by some as being hostile to LGBTQ+ and other marginalized individuals, is not necessarily in line with Sundance’s mission to promote underrepresented voices. Thus, the festival may no longer feel welcome in the state. (However, it should be noted that the Sundance Institute had not explicitly cited the legislation as a reason for leaving Utah.)
Regardless of the motive, as the Sundance Film Festival provides a significant financial boost to many local economies, its relocation to Colorado will definitely be felt across the state. According to a 2024 report prepared by Y2 Analytics, the total economic impact, measured as State GDP, was estimated at $132 million, with out-of-state visitors spending around $106.4 million in Utah. The Festival also generated an estimated 1,730 jobs for Utah residents and contributed $69.7 million in local wages.
Sundance also brings an energy and excitement to Park City that can’t be duplicated. It’s been said that during Sundance, you’re more likely to bump into someone from the film industry than you ever will on Hollywood Boulevard. Famous actors, directors and producers can be seen walking the streets, eating in restaurants, and doing press junkets. Additionally, there are daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions and launch parties.
Still, some local residents and business owners do see the positive side of the festival moving to another city. For one thing, traffic congestion is extremely high during the 10-day event, with travel time doubling and even tripling during peak hours. Additionally, theatre space is limited throughout the town, which restricts the amount of film-goers that can be accommodated per showing. This reduces the amount of cinephiles able to see the most popular independent releases, which can be discouraging for filmmakers.
Furthermore, after the pandemic, there were many structural and organizational changes made to the festival and the city.
“Since that time, Sundance just hasn’t brought in the business it once did for local companies,” said Cortney Johanson, managing partner at 350 Main and The Spur Bar and Grill. “Access to Main Street is now severely restricted during the 10-day event which keeps most locals and many groups away. Plus,” she continued, “the companies and individuals that are part of the film industry have moved away from collaborating with local businesses and have moved towards temporary corporate locations.”
Johanson added, “I can only speak for our restaurant group, but we actually do better in the weeks surrounding Sundance rather than during the actual festival.”
Still, the loss of the Sundance Film Festival will be felt for many years to come. After all, Park City has been its home since 1981, where it has launched the careers of countless Hollywood A-listers, and where audiences were provided first-looks at bold and creative works of art.
The final celebration of Sundance’s long history in Park City will happen for 10 days from January 22nd to February 1st, 2026. For your final chance to enjoy the festival here in the Beehive State, visit the Sundance website for showings, seats and special events.
Feature Image from Unsplash by Kirby Taylor.
