Sundance Film Festival Frequently Asked Questions

Boulder is collaborating with the Sundance Film Festival to improve infrastructure and lodging, aiming to create an affordable, sustainable experience that supports independent filmmaking and community access.

City staff visited the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City to celebrate the Festival, honor its legacy in Utah and learn how to support a successful transition to Boulder. Operations staff looked at how the Festival handles logistics such as transportation, access, public safety, planning and permitting. Our team was impressed with the work by Park City staff and volunteers and returned with many inspiring ideas to create a successful Sundance Film Festival for attendees, community members and businesses in Boulder.

Over the past decade, the Festival has averaged approximately 86,000 in-person attendees, with peak pre-pandemic attendance reaching about 125,000. Attendance is distributed across the Festival’s 11-day run rather than concentrated in a single weekend. Historically, about one-third of attendees travel from out of state, while roughly two-thirds come from within the host state and surrounding regional markets.

The City of Boulder Public Safety Team is diligently working to ensure the highest level of service to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. The Boulder Police Department and Boulder Fire-Rescue are meeting regularly and coordinating with several other law enforcement and community partners such as the Boulder Office of Disaster Management, the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department and Colorado State Patrol to make sure robust safety initiatives are in place and secure before January 2027.

The city has a long history of supporting special events that align with our Sustainability, Equity and Resilience goals. This includes established models for supporting large and complex events through governing agreements, while still requiring full permitting compliance, as well as providing fiscal and/or in-kind support for smaller community events. Examples include Ironman, the Boulder Creek Festival, and a range of community-focused festivals.

Efficient and accessible transportation—both within Boulder and regionally—is essential. We are embracing Colorado’s multimodal ethos and working closely with our local and regional transit partners to design a seamless Festival experience, connecting attendees through a blend of walkability, public transit, bike networks and regional access.

Boulder is dedicated to building a people-first transportation system where everyone of all mobility levels can get where they need to go safely and efficiently, even without a personal vehicle. Walking and rolling are great ways to experience the Festival– in fact, Boulder is consistently rated as one of the most bike- and pedestrian-friendly cities in the country. The city offers more than 300 miles of bike and multi-use paths, shared e-bikes and e-scooters, plus frequent and convenient transit service.

We modeled our lodging capacity based on an estimate of approximately 30,000 out-of-town visitors during the Festival’s peak period. Visit Boulder’s new Festival Lodging Program and the city’s new Festival Lodging Rental License, are designed to support large, multi-day festivals and events that are expected to have a substantial lodging demand. This program is designed to expand local housing opportunities outside of the many hotels in the city.

Our goal is to support a successful, long-term presence for the Festival. We are collaborating with our local lodging partners to secure stable lodging, with the goal of safeguarding attendees from price surges. Homes priced competitively are far more likely to book, and can help you secure renters while creating a memorable and positive experience that keeps visitors in Boulder supporting local businesses.

The Festival will bring an economic boost to the Boulder hospitality industry during winter months - typically a slow season. The Festival will also introduce thousands of filmmakers and movie lovers to Colorado, shining a light on Boulder’s vibrant arts and culture scene. Already, the arts have a significant impact on the economy, generating over $115 million in local economic activity annually.

Historically, the Sundance Film Festival has had a significant economic impact on its host location. The 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Utah generated $196.1 million in economic activity. This includes an estimated $162.4 million in spending on hotels, dining, shopping and other activities and $21.1 million in tax revenue. That year, the Festival generated an estimated 2,697 jobs for and contributed $103.3 million in wages. In 2025, the Festival drew 85,472 in-person attendees, including about 28,000 from out of state.

Governor Jared Polis has said his office anticipates the Festival could bring in about $2 billion to Colorado over 10 years. The projection is informed in part by the Festival’s historical performance in Utah, where the Festival has generated more than $130 million annually in economic activity. Other benefits include local investments that will last for years, including the build-out of venues, as well as an economic boost to the Boulder hospitality industry during winter months, when visitor spending is typically low.

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. 

Research shows that arts and culture activities drive commerce to local businesses, strengthen the visitor economy and help build more livable communities. The addition of Sundance Film Festival will continue to strengthen the positive impact of creativity on Boulder’s economy.

Boulder Arts by the Numbers | City of Boulder

Boulder’s incentive package was structured to reflect the city’s long-standing model for supporting major cultural events. It reflects Boulder’s commitment to the arts and the belief that hosting the Festival will bring long-term cultural and economic value to the city and the broader Colorado community. The Festival’s anticipated annual direct economic impact on Boulder equals or exceeds the value of the city’s annual contribution.

Contribution details:

• Estimated value of about $2.1 million a year over 10 years.
• Performance-based incentives and in-kind donations including rebates, permitting reimbursements and direct services, such as assistance with traffic planning, parking coordination and public safety.
• Provided in the form of parking and transit access, tax rebates, reimbursed permitting and inspection fees, renewable energy certificates, staff resources and office space.
• No direct monetary contributions.
• Details of the agreement can be found in the Dec. 18, 2025 City Council materials.

Creativity is central to Boulder’s identity, shaping its quality of life, economic vitality and ability to evolve. For generations, the city has drawn artists, culture-makers and independent thinkers whose contributions continue to define Boulder’s creative spirit. Sundance Film Festival represents a unique opportunity to build upon our community’s commitment to arts and culture. Our core values of equity, sustainability, resilience and inclusion are deeply aligned with the Sundance Institute’s values. We believe our shared values and partnership will enable the Festival to grow roots in Boulder and build a vibrant future, together with our community.

Beyond being a defining strength in our identity, the arts are a key driver of economic vitality. Boulder County has the nation's third-highest concentration of artists per capita. The city ranked among the top 10 most arts-vibrant medium-sized cities in the U.S., with creative employment three times the national average. In 2022, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $115.1 million in local economic activity. The Sundance Film Festival will further Boulder’s future as a creative and economically vital place in the west.

The proposal that earned Boulder the designation as the Festival host city for ten years, from 2027 to 2036, was put together by a coalition of local partners, including Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, the University of Colorado and the City of Boulder. These partners are looking forward to participating in a meaningful and evolving partnership to co-create a sustainable, rooted and community-aligned cultural institution, benefiting both Boulder and the broader Colorado community.

More information about the Festival’s schedule and ticketing can be found on the Sundance Film Festival’s website.

Visit the Sundance Film Festival’s website for information on volunteer opportunities.