The 2026 Sundance Film Festival is still a couple of months away, but anticipation is already building for what will certainly be an unforgettable festival. What makes this edition particularly special?
As you’ve probably already heard, the festival is moving. Since its inception in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival (I think Sundance has a better ring to it, don’t you?), the festival has been held every January in Park City and Salt Lake City. After a run of nearly 50 years, it was announced that the festival would move to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027. While I’m excited to see what’s in store for the festival in its new home, I can’t help but feel disappointed that it’s moving away from my backyard.
I’ve been lucky enough to attend the festival in some capacity every year since I first went and caught the bug in 2010. There’s something about the atmosphere—being surrounded by fellow film enthusiasts and filmmakers, set against the beautiful scenery with the crisp mountain air—that has kept me coming back year after year despite the weather, which always seems to take a turn for the worse right when I’m ready to drive up the canyon. But it’s always worth braving the weather—there’s no other filmgoing experience quite like it. There’s nothing like the excitement of sitting in a packed theater as the lights dim and the screen comes to life and you don’t quite know what to expect, because you’re about to see a work of art that’s being shared for the first time. I’ve seen all kinds of different films at Sundance over the years. Some have resonated with me more than others—some I’ve absolutely loved, and some I didn’t care for at all. But that’s the beauty of the programming at Sundance: there’s a little bit of something for everyone, and you never quite know what you’re going to get.
While the full festival program won’t be announced until December, there’s already a lot to look forward to. There will be a number of special events and film screenings celebrating the festival’s legacy in Utah, and of course its legendary founder, Robert Redford, who passed away in September. This will include a screening of his 1969 film Downhill Racer—his first independent project, and one that helped inspire him to start the Sundance Institute and the festival. There will also be screenings of important films from Sundance’s history, including American Dream, Mysterious Skin, House Party, Saw, and one of my personal favorites, Little Miss Sunshine.
Regardless of where the festival is held in the future, I have no doubt it will honor the vision of its founder and remain an important platform for independent storytellers—a place where they can continue to redefine cinema and share their work with the world.
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be held in Park City and Salt Lake City (and online) from January 22nd through February 1st. More information about the festival can be found here.
