October 15, 2026 Passes and ticket packages on sale
December 2026 Film lineup and schedule is announced
January 8, 2027 Individual single screening tickets go on sale
Jan. 21-31, 2027 Sundance Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado
About the Festival
What is the Sundance Film Festival?
The Sundance Film Festival, a program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute founded by Robert Redford, is the preeminent gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Since 1985, hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gone on to gain critical acclaim and reach new audiences worldwide. Each January, the Sundance Film Festival introduces a global audience to groundbreaking work and emerging talent in independent storytelling.
The Festival's programming team recently curated a Sundance Film Festival 101 watchlist — a perfect jumping-off point for discovering films that made their debut at the Festival.
Learn More
When is the Sundance Film Festival moving to Boulder, Colorado?
The Festival will transition to Boulder starting in 2027. The Festival dates are January 21-31, 2027.
What's the timeline? When are films announced and tickets available?
September 2026: Ticket/pass details announced
October 2026: Passes and ticket packages go on sale
December 2026: Film lineup announced
December 2026: Screening schedule and program released
Early January 2027: Package holders select screenings
Early January 2027: Single-film tickets go on sale
Jan. 21–31, 2027: Sundance Film Festival
Jan. 21–26, 2027: World premieres
Jan. 28–31, 2027: Online Festival (virtual screenings)
Can I attend the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder?
Yes, and we hope you will! The Festival is open to all, and every year, thousands of film lovers come to experience the premieres, screenings, panels and events. You can buy Festival tickets and passes closer to the event date.
Learn More
Macky Auditorium is a Sundance Film Festival venue in Boulder, Colorado
The Festival Experience in Boulder
What accommodations are available in Boulder?
Visit our Where to Stay page.
Boulder offers a range of lodging options, from budget-friendly hotels to boutique inns and high-end properties. Currently there are 4,777 hotel rooms within a ten-mile radius of the proposed core festival footprint. By 2027, there will be over 5,000 hotel rooms available within a ten-mile radius of Boulder, over 15,000 hotel rooms within a 20-minute drive and over 74,000 within 40 miles.
Festival attendees can also choose from short term rentals and private homes in and around Boulder.
How will attendees get around Boulder?
View the City of Boulder's Sundance Film Festival Transportation Page
The City of Boulder plans to provide free local bus transit on Boulder’s HOP bus route, as well as shared e-bike passes (up to 5,000), to Festival attendees and patrons during the Festival period. More information about transportation options during the Festival will be provided as the City moves through the planning process.
Boulder offers a blend of walkability, public transit, bike networks and regional access and currently accommodates a daytime commuting population of about 150,000 through sustainable modes of transportation. Festival transportation will include:
• Local circular Boulder transit with service hours to match the Festival schedule, free to Festival attendees, on the HOP bus
• Free passes (up to 5,000) for Boulder's e-bike sharing program for Festival attendees. (January often enjoys mild weather in Boulder. In January 2025, Boulder had 33,000 BCycle shared e-bike trips.)
• Regional Transportation Department (RTD) buses and commuter rail lines
• Park-and-ride hubs and dedicated Sundance Film Festival shuttles
• Express bus service on major corridors
• Coordination with coach services and mobility partners
• Mobile ticketing and trip planning using Transit
• Shared e-scooter programs. (In January 2025, Boulder had 21,000 Lime scooter trips.)
What is the nearest airport?
Denver International Airport (DEN) is the nearest major airport and a 45-minute drive to Boulder along easy, non-mountainous highways that becomes more and more scenic the closer you get to Boulder. DEN serves 225 destinations nonstop and is the largest airport site in North America and the second-largest in the world. You can take the public Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus from DEN to Boulder (Route AB1) for $10 one way, with a final destination at the Downtown Boulder Transit Station at 14th and Walnut, in the heart of downtown.
Smaller regional airports include:
- Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC): Approximately 15 miles from Boulder. Serves private jets, charter flights and general aviation. No regularly scheduled commercial airline service.
- Colorado Springs Airport (COS): Approximately 100 miles from Boulder. Offers scheduled domestic commercial flights, private jet services and general aviation.
- Boulder Municipal Airport (BDU): Approximately 3 miles from downtown Boulder. Serves general aviation, private aircraft and some smaller business jets. No commercial airline service.
- Erie Municipal Airport (EIK): Approximately 15 miles from Boulder. Serves private aircraft and general aviation. No regularly scheduled commercial airline service.
- Vance Brand Municipal Airport (LMO): Approximately 15 miles from Boulder, in Longmont. Serves private aircraft and general aviation. No regularly scheduled commercial airline service.
What is Boulder restaurant selection like? What about dietary needs?
Boulder has over 400 restaurants, from high-end and MICHELIN-recognized establishments to quick-and-delicious spots for attendees to grab and go. Over 225 of these can accommodate gluten-free dining, about 300 of them can easily accommodate vegetarian requests, and 175 have vegan choices on the menu. In addition, we have kosher and halal options, with a variety of cuisines from just about every corner of the globe.
Where in Boulder will the Festival be held?
2027 Sundance Film Festival Official Venues
Theaters:
- Boedecker Theater — Dairy Arts Center
- Boulder High School Auditorium
- Boulder Theater
- Casey Middle School Auditorium
- Chautauqua Auditorium
- Cinemark Century Boulder
- eTown Hall
- Gordon Gamm Theater — Dairy Arts Center
- Macky Auditorium Concert Hall — University of Colorado Boulder
- Muenzinger Auditorium — University of Colorado Boulder
- Roe Green Theatre — University of Colorado Boulder
Talks and Festival Programming:
- Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library District
- Dairy Arts Center
- eTown Hall
- Old Main — University of Colorado Boulder
What are the Sundance Film Festival dates for 2027?
The dates for the Sundance Film Festival are January 21-31, 2027.
Hotel accommodations near Sundance Film Festival events
About Boulder
Where is Boulder?
Boulder is located in north central Colorado — exactly where the plains and the Rocky Mountains meet. The city's elevation is 5,430 feet (1,665 meters) above sea level. That's a few thousand feet lower than our friends in high-alpine towns like Vail (8,239 feet) or Breckenridge (9,600 feet). Looking west in Boulder, you'll be able to see gorgeous mountain views. Denver is about 30 minutes away.
Is Boulder in the mountains?
Great question. Boulder sits exactly where the mountains meet the plains. So you get all the natural beauty of a mountain setting at a lower altitude, with easy driving conditions and moderate temperatures.
Boulder's elevation above sea level: 5,430 feet (1655 meters)
How big is Boulder?
With a population of around 105,000 (about 30% of those students), Boulder has big city amenities while still being walkable and neighborly. The city is geographically compact at just 27.8 square miles (44.7 square kilometers).
What is Boulder known for?
In a nutshell: our obsessions with outdoor recreation, health foods, land preservation, science research, breweries, wellness and innovation. Read our page What Boulder Is Known For to discover why.
Is Boulder walkable? Do I need a car?
A compact downtown core means you can leave your car at the hotel or skip it entirely, and other neighborhoods and sites are easily accessed by bike or public transit. The Festival venues are within about a 2-mile area of one another.
What are the top things to see and do?
The Flatirons and Pearl Street are our top two must-sees, but you'll want to check out the complete list and explore your own interests.
What is the weather like in Boulder in January?
Boulder typically sees its lightest snowfall in January, with average daytime highs around 47°F (8°C). Snowfall may come and go, frequently followed by bright sunshine and crisp, clear days.
What is there to do in Boulder in winter?
Winter in Boulder is typically filled with bluebird days, and festival attendees can hit over 160 miles of hiking trails, try fat biking or e-biking on all-weather tires or head up into the hills for some snowshoeing. This is a town of avid skiers, and Eldora ski area, one of 11 “Colorado Gems,” is just 35 minutes away and has a renowned adaptive ski center so everyone can take part. The world-famous slopes at Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Winter Park are about two hours away.
More of an indoor explorer? Boulder's museums, teahouses and tea experiences, shopping, eateries and coffeehouses (so...many...coffeehouses) await. In a town that has one of the highest concentration of professional artists per capita in the country, you'll also find art museums, galleries, studios and performances to check out.
For even more only-in-Boulder experiences, contact us at visitor@bouldercvb.com and we'll help make your dreams become reality — from epic mountain adventures to creative outings to wellness and relaxation.
Pearl Street on a sunny day in January
Festival Benefits to Boulder
What is the economic impact of the Sundance Film Festival?
Historically, the Sundance Film Festival has had a significant economic impact on its host location. According to the most recent economic impact report, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Utah contributed $196.1 million to the state's gross domestic product. This included $21.1 million in state and local tax revenue, $103.3 million in wages and support for 2,697 jobs. That year, the Festival drew at least 85,472 in-person attendees, including approximately 28,000 from out of state. Those visitors accounted for an estimated $162.4 million in spending in Utah during the Festival.
What does Boulder have to offer the Sundance Film Festival?
We believe Boulder offers the Sundance Film Festival a strong partnership rooted in a shared commitment to creativity and independent voices. Set at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder makes for a close-to-nature setting paired with urban amenities and venues.
What other benefits will the Festival bring to Boulder?
Other benefits include local investments that will last for years, as well as an economic boost to the Boulder hospitality industry during winter months, when visitor spending is typically low. There are about $16 million in upgrades currently happening for local theaters and performance spaces — including school auditoriums — to add state-of-the-art sound, projection, accessibility and other improvements.
The Festival will also introduce thousands of filmmakers and industry professionals to Colorado, increasing the likelihood they’ll return to film future projects, bringing continued economic benefit.
