Sundance Film Festival unveils plans for 2026 sendoff
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A view of the Egyptian Theatre marquee in Park City, Utah. Photo: Michael Buckner/Deadline via Getty Images
Utah's final Sundance Film Festival is scheduled to kick off Jan. 22, 2026, organizers announced Monday, ending a four-decade run.
Why it matters: The Utah-born independent film festival — set to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 — will show appreciation for the Utah community, honor cofounder Robert Redford and feature archival screenings and special events.
What to expect: Next year's event will showcase more than 90 feature films and over 50 shorts. The lineup will be released later this year.
- Park City's Main Street will again become pedestrian-only.
- At-home screenings will be available Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026.
What they're saying: "This year will mean so much for so many reasons," Eugene Hernandez, director of the festival and public programming, said in a letter. "Our focus is making the 2026 festival ... one to remember, a celebration full of gratitude and joy."
Between the lines: Venues in Park City include: the Eccles Theatre, Holiday Village Cinemas, Library Center Theatre, the Ray Theatre, Redstone Cinemas and the Yarrow Theatre.
- Salt Lake City venues are Broadway Centre Cinemas and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
The intrigue: Park City's iconic Egyptian Theatre, an emblematic venue for the festival, will not host screening this year.
Catch up quick: Sundance announced it was moving to Colorado in March after launching a competitive bidding process last year for a new host city.
- News of the resettlement disappointed local and state leaders, including and Gov. Spencer Cox and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who accused the festival of "using politics" as a "convenient excuse" for its move in a Los Angeles Times op-ed.
- Festival leaders have maintained that the state's conservative politics did not drive them away.
By the numbers: Out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million during this year's festival, drawing over 72,000 in-person attendees, per an economic impact report.
- The event's total economic impact was estimated to be $132 million and produced about 1,730 jobs for Utahns.
Flashback: As the festival departs for neighboring Colorado, here's a list of influential movies that premiered at Sundance over the years:
- "Reservoir Dogs," directed by Quentin Tarantino
- "The Blair Witch Project," directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
- "Napoleon Dynamite," directed by Jared Hess
- "Whiplash," directed by Damien Chazelle
- "Get Out," directed by Jordan Peele
- "CODA," directed by Sian Heder
- "Past Lives," directed by Celine Song
What we're watching: Moviegoers can take advantage of free screenings of films that premiered earlier this year on July 17-19 in Salt Lake City and Park City.
Read more: Missed Sundance? Here's where to watch select films for free