Sundance Is Moving to Boulder in 2027—Here’s What the First Colorado Festival Will Be Like
Sundance Is Coming to Boulder: What to Know Before Your 2027 Trip
The Sundance Film Festival is moving to Colorado in 2027, bringing 11 days of movies, premieres and events to Boulder with the Flatirons as the backdrop.
For the first time in its history, the Sundance Film Festival is heading to Boulder, Colorado.
The 2027 festival will take place January 21–31, marking the beginning of a new era for Sundance after decades in Utah. And for travelers, the move means the festival is getting a very different setting: instead of a ski town, visitors will experience Sundance in a walkable Colorado city surrounded by the Flatirons.
The timing also makes Boulder an appealing winter getaway in its own right, with restaurants, shops, outdoor activities and mountain scenery filling the time between screenings.
Sundance Institute | photo by Jemal Countess
Sundance Will Be Much Easier to Explore
One of the biggest advantages for visitors is the festival's compact footprint.
Sundance says its 2027 venues will sit within roughly a two-mile radius, with locations around downtown Boulder, Pearl Street and the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Venues include Macky Auditorium, Boulder Theater, Roe Green Theatre, Muenzinger Auditorium and Chautauqua Auditorium.
That means a day at Sundance can look very different from a typical festival schedule.
See a morning screening, walk to Pearl Street for lunch, browse the shops, catch another movie and end the night at a Boulder restaurant—all without spending the day traveling between distant venues.
Boulder also operates local bus service, with festival transportation planned around the event.
Pearl Street Will Be Part of the Experience
Between movies, Pearl Street is likely to become one of the most important places for festivalgoers.
The pedestrian mall sits only a few blocks from several Sundance venues and is filled with restaurants, cafés, shops and bars.
That makes it easy to turn a trip to Sundance into a broader Boulder getaway rather than spending all your time inside theaters.
And then there are the mountains.
The Flatirons Are the New Sundance Backdrop
Boulder sits directly beneath the Flatirons, giving the 2027 festival a very different look and feel from its longtime Utah home.
One of the festival venues, Chautauqua Auditorium, sits at the base of the Flatiron trails, about a mile from Pearl Street.
For travelers, that means you can add some time outdoors to the trip. Boulder has extensive hiking trails, while Eldora ski area is also within driving distance for visitors who want to combine Sundance with a winter mountain experience.
The 2027 Festival Will Be Bigger in Some Ways
The move isn't the only change.
Sundance says its four main competition sections—U.S. Dramatic, World Cinema Dramatic, U.S. Documentary and World Cinema Documentary—will each expand to 12 films in 2027. Other sections will also grow, while the experimental New Frontier program returns after a two-year pause.
The festival will also continue its talks and events, with additional programming including live podcast recordings.
The 2027 lineup is scheduled to be announced in December.
When Should You Buy Sundance Tickets?
Sundance says passes and ticket packages go on sale in October, while individual film tickets are expected to go on sale in early January.
The festival runs for 11 days, but the major world premieres take place during the opening stretch, from January 21 through January 26. Additional screenings continue through the end of the festival.
For travelers planning a trip around specific films, December will be the important month because that's when the lineup is revealed.
Sundance Institute | photo by Sam Emenogu
You Don't Have to Stay in Boulder
Boulder is easily accessible from Denver International Airport, and the city says the airport is about 45 minutes away with direct transit connections.
That gives travelers another option if Boulder hotels are booked or expensive during festival week: stay in Denver and travel to Boulder for the festival.
There will also be online Sundance programming for people who cannot make the trip, with at-home screenings scheduled for January 28–31.
Why the 2027 Festival Will Be Different
The first Boulder Sundance is inevitably going to feel different.
There is the new city, new theaters, Pearl Street, the university campus and the Flatirons replacing the scenery longtime attendees associate with the festival.
For first-time visitors, though, that may be the appeal.
You can come for the films, spend an afternoon exploring Boulder, grab dinner on Pearl Street, look out at the mountains and experience a festival that is launching a completely new chapter.
Sundance in Boulder isn't simply a new address. It's a reason to make the festival part of a Colorado winter trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2027 Sundance Film Festival?
The 2027 Sundance Film Festival takes place January 21–31, 2027, in Boulder, Colorado.
Is Sundance moving to Boulder?
Yes. Boulder becomes the new home of the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027.
Where will Sundance be held in Boulder?
Festival venues will be located around downtown Boulder, Pearl Street and the University of Colorado Boulder campus, with additional venues including Chautauqua Auditorium and the Dairy Arts Center.
When will the 2027 Sundance lineup be announced?
The 2027 festival lineup is scheduled to be announced in December 2026.
When do Sundance tickets go on sale?
Passes and packages go on sale in October 2026, while individual film tickets are expected to go on sale in early January 2027.
Can I watch Sundance online?
Yes. Online screenings are scheduled for January 28–31, 2027, with films from the competition sections and selected additional programming available to at-home audiences.
