The Sundance Film Festival will hold its final Utah-based festival, an 11-day event beginning January 22 to February 1, 2026, marking the last time the festival will be hosted in Utah before relocating to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027. The upcoming festival will showcase over 90 feature films and more than 50 short films, along with new films, archival screenings, and special features that specifically reflect on the festival’s forty-year-long history. A significant highlight planned for January 23 during the festival is a tribute to Robert Redford, who co-founded the Sundance Film Festival along with Sterling Van Wagenen and John Earle. Redford played a leading role in nurturing and expanding the festival, and this tribute will honor his vision and lifelong commitment to film, art, and most importantly, independent storytelling.
Screenings in 2026 will continue across the usual locations in Park City and Salt Lake City. The venues include several historic and rustic theaters such as the Eccles Theatre, Library Center Theatre, Ray Theatre, Redstone Cinemas, Holiday Village Cinemas, and Yarrow Theatre. While the historic Egyptian Theatre has often been part of the festival in past years, this year it will not be used. The final Utah edition hopes to intertwine a sense of farewell with a celebration of what the festival has achieved over the decades. The festival’s focus this year is not only about film but also about expressing gratitude to the local community and venues that have supported Sundance since its move to Park City in 1981.
The Sundance Film Festival originally began in 1978 as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival and eventually grew into one of the most celebrated and globally recognized film festivals spotlighting independent cinema. Founders and organizers announced the move to Boulder in March 2025, supported by a new 10-year partnership and local tax incentives aimed at sustaining and growing its cultural impact. The Festival board describes this move as a strategic step toward ensuring Sundance’s future, while the 2026 edition will serve as a bridge between its storied past in Utah and an exciting new chapter in Colorado. Though the festival is bound to feel bittersweet this year, its next chapter promises something fresh while honoring tradition.
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