By Park City, Utah – The Sundance Institute on Friday announced six finalists in its search for a new host location for the influential film festival.
After 40 years in Park City, Utah, the festival is considering locations across the country for festivals starting in 2027 when its existing contract will be up for renewal. The snowy mountain town, along with Salt Lake City, will still be home to the 2025 and 2026 festivals, and the Utah cities are one of the six options for future festivals.
The other five finalists are Atlanta, Cincinnati, Boulder, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. These cities are moving along in the selection process after a competitive request for proposal phase that started in May and saw submissions from across the country.
The potential host cities were selected for their ability to support the film festival’s growth, and they will continue to be evaluated on each city’s infrastructure, accessibility, event venues, and logistical capabilities, as well as their alignment with Sundance’s values.
“As we very carefully consider this important decision for our Festival, we believe these six finalists allow us the best opportunity to not only secure a sustainable future for our Festival, but also to build upon its legacy while continuing to support the next generation of storytellers and highlight bold new works of art,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute board chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute CEO, in a joint statement.
“We are grateful to all the communities who have expressed interest and been a part of the process, and we have valued the opportunity to learn about the unique offerings of each city,” the statement continued. “We look forward to the next phase of this important decision.”
The Sundance Film Festival, which has long served as a major platform for independent films and has launched numerous careers, aims to ensure its future growth and impact through this relocation process. Further evaluations and site visits will be conducted before the final decision is made.
