SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — 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.

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The festival last year boasted close to 73,000 attendees, with more than 24,000 coming from out-of-state, including celebrities, industry moguls, and independent film lovers, who spent a collective $106.4 million while visiting Utah. According to the Sundance Institute's 2024 economic impact report, the event generated about $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue.

The report is included in full at the end of this report.

In addition to the potential loss of millions of dollars, Utah will also see over 1,700 jobs disappear -- along with nearly $70 million in wages paid to Utah residents.

"Tourism-related industries are beneficiaries of spending that would not otherwise be part of the state’s economy," according to the institute's financial report, "and that spending entering the state induces additional spending as companies hire additional labor, increase their capacity, and purchase the goods that are necessary to accommodate the additional visitors."

Starting in 2027, those benefits will belong to Boulder.

Boulder's winning proposal emphasized its walkable downtown, Pearl Street Mall, University of Colorado campus venues, and proximity to the Rocky Mountains, according to a statement from the institute.

“This decision was informed by a detailed evaluation of the key components essential to creating our Festival. During the process, it became clear that Boulder is the ideal location in which to build our Festival’s future, marking a key strategic step in its natural evolution,” Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair Ebs Burnogh said in a statement. “We have a profound appreciation for the finalist cities and their communities — including Boulder, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah — who presented overwhelmingly strong proposals and dedicated their time, passion, and commitment every step of the way. We have deep respect and gratitude to these communities for their hard work and partnership throughout the past year. Additionally, we sincerely value the steadfast support from our staff and board as we have ventured on this exploration together.”

The Sundance Institute's announcement in full is also included below.

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