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Final 6 cities announced as potential hosts for Sundance Film Festival
After months of accepting bids, the Sundance Film Festival has narrowed its search for a potential new home starting in 2027 down to six contenders. One of five far-flung cities around the country could be the new setting for the Robert Redford-founded indie festival, or Sundance could remain in its longtime home base in Utah under a new deal, it was revealed Friday. Along with the unified bid from Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, the final contenders for a revived Sundance are Atlanta, GA; Boulder, CO; Cincinnati, OH; Louisville, KY; and Santa Fe, NM.
A civic leader in one of the festival's potential new locations told Deadline today that his city plans to "blow Sundance's mind with what we have here, and why they should move here." As various jurisdictions in a divided America pass restrictive laws and regulations during this election year, Sundance executives are placing a clear emphasis in their deliberations on "core values" of inclusion, equality, environmental stewardship and a commitment to culture and independent film in particular.
A final decision on whether Sundance will move after the 2026 festival is expected sometime between the fall and the end of the 2025 event, though some inside Sundance are pushing for the news to come out sooner rather than later. Under the current contract, the 2025 and 2026 festivals will be held in Park City, with screenings in SLC and other Utah locations.
