The Sundance Film Festival Coming to Boulder – What Northern Colorado Can Expect

While there are many benefits to Colorado with the Sundance Film Festival moving to Boulder, we can count on there being more than a few issues. Issues not just for the Denver-Boulder area, but for Northern Colorado, too.

When is the Sundance Film Festival Coming to Boulder, Colorado?

It was in March of 2025, that it was announced that the festival would be leaving Park City, Utah, after decades to move to Boulder in 2027. It was in February of 2026, they announced the dates would be January 21 - January 31, 2027. Right after the holidays and before the Super Bowl and Valentines Day; not terrible when it comes to

Boulder's Capacity is No Match for Expected Film Makers, Fans

According to AXIOS, over 85,000 attended the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. A surge of nearly 100,000 extra people coming to the Boulder area, will most-likely mean that the Fort Collins/Loveland/Johnstown areas will be effected; probably in more than a couple of ways.

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AXIOS states that Boulder only has 4,000 hotel rooms; with 85,000 expected to come, that's going to mean that the outlying cities around Boulder will see rooms booked, from Boulder-Longmont to Loveland-Fort Collins-Greeley. People wanting to stay in Northern Colorado to visit family or to hit Rocky Mountain National Park, may be out of luck.

Less Hotel Rooms Available and More Vehicles on Northern Colorado Roads

Plus, with 85,000 coming to the area, traffic will be impacted up and down I-25 and Highway 34 for those 10 days. Rental cars, Ubers, people needing to get those hotel rooms and find a place to eat: restaurants will be packed.