The Sundance Film Festival Is Coming to Boulder

By John Doe

Matthew Jensen brings an authentic, honest, professional, and positive attitude into every interaction. Whether its working with a first-time home buyer or selling a luxury listing, it's Matthew's philosophy that everyone gets the same high-level of service, no matter the size of the transaction.

For over 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival has called Park City, Utah home. And now, drum roll please, it’s coming to Boulder in January of 2027.

This isn’t just a film festival announcement. This is something that’s going to touch the entire community. Our local businesses, our artists and filmmakers, housing, traffic, all of it. So the real question is, what is this actually going to look like for the people who live here?

I had the chance to sit down with John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and Bruce Borowsky, Boulder County Film Commissioner, to find out.

A huge moment for the arts in Boulder. Local filmmakers, creatives, musicians, and storytellers are about to have a global spotlight right here in their own backyard. Opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get exposure at a level Boulder hasn’t really seen before. John pointed out that having Sundance here also creates opportunities for people who think about producing films to see Boulder as a great location. The talent is already here, everything from editing and lighting to screenwriting and production. Exposing the Sundance community to what we have here could lift Boulder’s entire film industry.

A real economic driver, and the timing couldn’t be better. We’re talking about tens of thousands of people coming into Boulder. Restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, retail, local services. This is going to be a major boost for small businesses across the city. And it’s not just a cultural moment. As John put it, January is the slowest period for restaurants, hotels, and activity in Boulder. So having an event of this scale come during the time when hospitality and retail are feeling the pinch of a difficult stretch is a huge lift. It supports those businesses, it lifts the tax base, and it strengthens the economy at the moment it needs it most.

Ways for the community to get involved. What I really love about this is that there are so many ways for people in our community to actually be a part of it. You can attend screenings, events, panels, and parties. You can volunteer. You can get involved behind the scenes. This isn’t just something happening to Boulder. It’s something you can step into and help make happen. Bruce mentioned that people interested in volunteering can go to volunteers at sundance.org, and the Boulder County Film Commission website has information on events, many of them free, for anyone interested in the film or creative community.

What it’s going to feel like day-to-day. It’s going to be busier. More people downtown, more energy, more events, probably more traffic, tougher parking, and more movement overall. There’s going to be a lot of excitement, but there’s also a need to manage all of that in a way that still works for the people who live here. John shared that when he was in Park City in January, a huge team from the city of Boulder was there too, police, fire, planning, all of them taking notes on what works and what doesn’t. He has confidence they’ll figure out how to keep things running smoothly without it becoming a massive disruption for residents.

Where will everyone stay? That brings us to one of the biggest challenges. Boulder simply doesn’t have enough hotel space to absorb that kind of demand. So the city had to get creative. They’ve introduced something called the Festival Lodging Rental License, which allows homeowners, and in some cases renters, to rent out their homes during events like Sundance. But it’s limited and controlled. This isn’t Boulder opening things up permanently. It’s a very intentional move to handle a short-term surge in demand without changing the long-term character of the city. Bruce explained that they’ve made it easier for residents to license their homes for this purpose, whether it’s a single-family home or a unit in a multifamily building. You’re not going to pay your entire year’s mortgage from it, but you can make a good amount and take a nice trip while the festival runs. He also made an important point: it’s a free market, but it would be nice if we didn’t gouge people coming to visit Boulder. “I’d like people to have a great experience here, fall in love with our town, and the way to do that is to make them feel welcome.”

When you zoom out, this is really about Boulder stepping onto a global stage. Creating opportunities for artists and businesses, bringing energy into this community, and trying to do it in a way that still protects what makes this place special.

If you’re curious about how Sundance coming to Boulder might impact your home or your neighborhood, or if you’re thinking about buying or investing with this in mind, I’d love to talk it through with you. Call me at 303-819-6494, email me at mjensen@wkre.com, or visit matthewjensen.wkre.com.