The Sundance Film Festival
Boulder Guide
At a Glance
The 2027 Sundance Film Festival runs January 21 through January 31 in Boulder, Colorado. Year one of the festival's permanent move to Boulder after 40 years in Park City, Utah. Eleven days, eleven screening theaters, four talk venues, spread across downtown Boulder and the CU Boulder campus.
The City of Boulder created a brand new Festival Lodging Rental License ($190 application fee) that lets homeowners rent property for up to 29 days during festival periods, with no requirement that the home be a primary residence. Properties in unincorporated Boulder County and the Town of Lyons play by different and generally stricter rules.
The package that brought Sundance to Boulder totaled around $70 million across local ($34M) and state tax credits ($34M). The festival generated $196 million in economic impact in its final Utah year (2025) with more than 85,000 attendees. Colorado is projecting over $2 billion in cumulative impact across the ten year agreement.
Tickets for 2027 are not yet on sale. Based on prior years, packages go on sale in October and single tickets (about $35) in mid January. Official source: festival.sundance.org
Why Boulder. Why Now.
In March 2025, the Sundance Institute announced Boulder as the new permanent home for its annual film festival, ending a four decade run in Park City. The ten year agreement brings one of the most recognized cultural events on the planet to Colorado's Front Range starting January 2027.
The decision came out of a national search that also considered Cincinnati and a continued partnership with Salt Lake City. Sundance pointed to Boulder's proximity to the Rocky Mountains, the city's established arts and tech ecosystem, the CU Boulder campus, and a walkable downtown footprint. There is also a personal connection: Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Institute in 1981, attended the University of Colorado from 1954 to 1956.
The deal was backed by a combined incentive package of nearly $70 million over ten years. A coalition of the City of Boulder, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, and CU Boulder committed $34 million in direct local support. Separately, Governor Jared Polis signed HB25-1005 in April 2025, authorizing another $34 million in state tax credits available to qualifying film festivals that relocate to Colorado.
The short version: this is not a one off. Boulder is now the home of Sundance for the foreseeable future. If you own property in Boulder County, that matters more than most people realize.
Festival Dates and Venues
Screenings, panels, conversations, and side events will be spread across downtown Boulder, the CU Boulder campus, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Official Screening Theaters
Boedecker Theater (Dairy Arts Center), Boulder High School Auditorium, Boulder Theater, Casey Middle School Auditorium, Chautauqua Auditorium, Cinemark Century Boulder, eTown Hall, Gordon Gamm Theater (Dairy Arts Center), Macky Auditorium (CU Boulder), Muenzinger Auditorium (CU Boulder), and Roe Green Theatre (CU Boulder).
Talks and Festival Programming
Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library, the Dairy Arts Center, eTown Hall, and Old Main on the CU Boulder campus.
Economic Impact
Sundance is one of the largest single cultural events in the United States by economic footprint. For Boulder specifically, it lands in January, which is historically the slowest month for tourism, retail, and hospitality. That timing is the whole game.
In its final year in Park City (2025), the festival generated roughly $196 million in economic impact with more than 85,000 in person attendees. The year before that, the numbers came in at 72,840 unique attendees, 24,200 out of state visitors who spent an average of $4,411 each, and $132 million in total impact, including $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue.
Colorado is projecting over $2 billion in cumulative economic impact across the ten year deal, plus around $16 million in net new tax revenue beyond the $34 million state tax credit.
Numbers aside, the festival puts Boulder in front of national and international media every January for the foreseeable future. Creative industry professionals who have never set foot in Colorado are going to come here first because of Sundance. Some of them are going to come back. That kind of repeated visibility changes how a place is perceived, and the downstream effect on visitor traffic and real estate interest is going to extend well beyond the festival window itself.
Renting Your Home During the Festival
Boulder's hotel inventory will not come close to absorbing festival demand. Private home rentals are expected to make up the difference, and Boulder has built a new licensing framework specifically to enable that. The rules, though, are very different depending on where exactly your property sits.
The 11 day festival window (plus the setup and wind down on either side) creates a concentrated burst of rental demand. In Park City, homeowners regularly cleared three to five times their normal nightly rates during Sundance, with some properties covering most of a year's worth of mortgage payments from the festival period alone. Boulder will find its own price point, but the underlying demand pattern is going to look familiar.
Step one for any owner: figure out which jurisdiction your property falls under. The rules inside the City of Boulder are different from unincorporated Boulder County, which are different again from the Town of Lyons or the City of Longmont. Each municipality writes its own short term rental code.
Rental Regulations by Jurisdiction
Colorado does not have a statewide short term rental law. Short term rental rules are set locally, and they vary widely across the Boulder County area.
City of Boulder
Boulder has two distinct pathways to legally rent short term.
Standard STR License
For an owner's principal residence only. Covers year round short term rentals of 29 days or fewer.
Festival Lodging License
Up to 29 days per year during approved festivals. Does not require a principal residence. $190 application fee. Valid four years.
| Dual licensing | A 2026 ordinance allows owners to hold standard and festival licenses simultaneously. |
|---|---|
| Tenant subleasing | As of April 2026, tenants can apply for the Festival Lodging License with written landlord permission. |
| HOAs | City licensing does not override HOA covenants. Check your governing documents. |
| Property management | Visit Boulder's Festival Lodging Program lists vetted partner companies. |
Boulder neighborhoods worth knowing: Downtown (walkable to Pearl Street and most venues), University Hill (close to CU screening spaces), Chautauqua (scenic, near the auditorium), Whittier (quiet, walkable), Mapleton Hill (large historic homes).
Unincorporated Boulder County
A separate licensing system administered by Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting.
| STR License | Primary residence, owner or tenant on site, up to 45 nights per year of absent rental allowed. |
|---|---|
| Vacation Rental License | Non primary residence, 60+ days per year. Not permitted in all locations. |
| Wildfire zones | Properties in Zone 1 require a Wildfire Partners assessment within five years. |
| Occupancy cap | Maximum 8 guests. |
| Fees | $350 to $500, valid two years. |
| Festival license | None as of May 2026. |
Town of Lyons
Lyons operates under a 2018 STR ordinance with no festival lodging exemption.
| Eligibility | Owner's principal residence only. Owner must occupy the home at least nine months per year. |
|---|---|
| Restrictions | No STRs in campers, RVs, sheds, or ADUs governed by the accessory dwelling ordinance. |
| Fees | $175 in year one. $150 on renewal. Plus a $2 per night occupancy fee. |
| Tax | Colorado sales tax license required. |
| Processing | Allow about 45 days. |
Lyons during Sundance: 17 miles north of downtown Boulder on the scenic corridor toward Estes Park. Visitors looking for a quieter, smaller, mountain town feel will look here. Watch for updates from the Lyons Board of Trustees as the festival gets closer.
What Applies Everywhere
State Sales Tax
2.9% on stays of 29 nights or fewer. Local sales and lodging taxes stack on top.
Insurance
Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover short term rental activity. Add a rider or a dedicated STR policy.
Safety
Working smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers are non negotiable.
HOA Covenants
Municipal licenses do not override HOA rules. Check your bylaws before you list.
License Display
Your license number has to appear in all listings on every platform you use.
How to Get Tickets
The Sundance Film Festival is open to the public. Tickets for the 2027 Boulder debut are not on sale yet, but the purchasing pattern from Park City is consistent enough to plan around.
| Type | What You Get | When |
|---|---|---|
| Single film tickets | One screening. Around $35 in recent years. | Mid January. Public. |
| Ticket packages | Bundles of 10 tickets with early film selection. | October. Members first. |
| Passes | Multi day access. Priority entry. | Limited. Donors and members first. |
| Day of waitlist | Standby access for sold out screenings. | During festival. |
Key Dates to Put on the Calendar
- By October 1, 2026: Activate a Sundance membership ($250+) to qualify for presale access.
- October 2026: Ticket packages go on sale. Members and Donor Circle members get first crack.
- By January 2, 2027: Membership has to be active to qualify for early single ticket fulfillment and the presale.
- Mid January 2027: Single film tickets open to the general public.
- January 21 to 31, 2027: Festival runs. Day of waitlist available at every screening.
Official tickets and current pricing: festival.sundance.org. Visitor planning: Visit Boulder. Campus venue details: CU Boulder.
Where to Eat in Boulder
Boulder has more than 400 restaurants and several spots recognized in the MICHELIN Guide. Pearl Street was named one of the 10 Best Foodie Streets in America by Food and Wine. The kitchens worth knowing source locally and rotate menus with the season. Here is where to start.
Frasca Food and Wine
Pearl Street · Michelin starred · Friulian Italian
Co founded by master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson. The wine program alone justifies the reservation. frascafoodandwine.com
Corrida
Pearl Street · Spanish inspired · Rooftop
Wood fired steaks served four floors up with the Flatirons looking right back at you. More detail under Dinner with a View below.
Blackbelly Market
East Boulder · Whole animal butchery
Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg runs a restaurant and an actual working butcher shop, sourced from Colorado ranchers. blackbelly.com
Oak at Fourteenth
Pearl Street · Wood fired American · Seasonal
Chef Steve Redzikowski builds the menu around the wood oven. Quietly one of the more consistent kitchens in town. oakatfourteenth.com
Zoe Ma Ma
Pearl Street · Chinese street food · James Beard semifinalist
Taiwanese beef noodle soup and pork bao that punches above its modest footprint. zoemama.com
The Dushanbe Teahouse
Central Boulder · Global · One of a kind
A gift to Boulder from its sister city in Tajikistan. Hand carved cedar columns, ceramic tiles assembled overseas and shipped here, a menu that reaches across continents. There is nothing else like it. boulderteahouse.com
Basta
Near CU · Italian · Sourdough and wood fired pizza
Tucked behind a condo building, the kind of place locals send out of towners on purpose. Sourdough comes from Dry Storage next door. bastaboulder.com
Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar
Pearl Street · Seafood · Raw bar
On Pearl Street since 1994 and Colorado's first Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch certified restaurant. The raw bar is serious. Monday happy hour is an institution. jaxfishhouse.com
Steakhouse No. 316
Off Pearl Street · Prime steaks · Tableside Caesar
Sister to the Aspen original, set inside an early 1900s building with a Carrara marble bar and a fireplace centerpiece. Order the tableside Caesar. Open nightly from 4:30. steakhouse316.com
Brunch: Snooze on Pearl is the default and the line proves it. Bramble and Hare and Lucile's are strong alternatives if you are not in the mood to wait.
Dinner with a View
Boulder's better restaurants do not stop at the food. A handful of kitchens put the Flatirons, the city lights, or both squarely in the frame.
Flagstaff House
Flagstaff Mountain · Fine dining · Tasting menu
Built into the mountainside at 6,000 feet, with the Monette family at the helm since 1971. Seasonal tasting menus, a 16,000 bottle cellar, and a view of Boulder that gets better after the sun drops. Forbes Four Star. Wine Spectator Grand Award every year since 1983. Reserve early. flagstaffhouse.com
Corrida
Pearl Street · Rooftop · Spanish inspired
Fourth floor rooftop, direct sight line to the Flatirons. Dry aged steaks, wood fired seafood, a gin and tonic cart. Winter alpenglobes on the patio make this one of the best cold weather dining experiences in the state. The 3 to 5 PM tapas hour is the value play. corridarestaurant.com
Avanti Food and Beverage
Pearl Street · Rooftop food hall · Casual
Six rotating food stalls and a rooftop bar with nearly 360 degree views. Detroit style pizza, bao buns, tacos, Mediterranean bowls. Loud, social, no reservations. A good landing pad after a screening. Open year round. avantifandb.com
West End Tavern
West Pearl · Rooftop patio · BBQ and bourbon
A Pearl Street institution since 1987. Burgers, burnt ends, skillet cornbread with honey butter, and an extensive bourbon list. The rooftop is tucked among neighboring buildings but the Flatirons still come through. The kind of place where you stay longer than you meant to. thewestendtavern.com
10 Things to Do Between Screenings
The festival runs 11 days. You are not going to be in a theater every waking hour. Ten ideas for what to do with Boulder in January in between films.
Hike the Flatirons at Chautauqua Park
The 1.2 mile Chautauqua Trail is manageable in winter boots. For a tougher climb, the Royal Arch Trail ends with a sandstone arch framing the city below. chautauqua.com
Walk Pearl Street Mall
Four pedestrian only blocks of downtown. Independent shops, galleries, street performers, winter lights, and fewer crowds in January. boulderdowntown.com
Ski or Snowboard at Eldora
21 miles from downtown, 10 lifts, terrain for every level. The RTD Ski N Ride bus runs from Boulder, which means a half day between screenings is realistic. eldora.com
Tour the Craft Breweries
Avery, Upslope, Finkel and Garf, Mountain Sun. All within city limits. January is the right month to spend time indoors with a stout.
Cross Country Ski at Eldora Nordic Center
Over 45 kilometers of groomed track. Rentals available on site. The Indian Peaks watch you the whole way. eldora.com/nordic
Have Tea at the Dushanbe Teahouse
Disassembled in Tajikistan, shipped to Boulder, rebuilt by hand. Carved cedar, hand painted ceilings, a reflecting pool indoors. Lunch is the move. boulderteahouse.com
Walk the Boulder Creek Path
Paved, flat, runs through the heart of town. Easy in any season. Good for clearing your head between screenings.
Drive to Eldorado Canyon State Park
15 minutes south. Towering sandstone walls and a creek through the canyon floor. The drive in is its own reward. cpw.state.co.us
Visit Fiske Planetarium at CU
One of the most advanced planetariums in the country, sitting on campus between festival venues. colorado.edu/fiske
Day Trip to Lyons
17 miles north. A small sandstone town at the confluence of two forks of the St. Vrain. Good restaurants, walkable downtown, a much quieter pace. If Boulder feels busy during the festival, Lyons is the antidote. We can give you the local rundown if you ask. lyonscolorado.com
Skiing Near Boulder
Boulder is not a ski town. It is a town from which you can ski in the morning and still make a 4 PM screening. Eldora is 35 minutes from downtown. Winter Park and the Summit County resorts are reasonable day trips. No other host city Sundance has used could say that.
Eldora Mountain Resort
21 miles · 35 minutes · No I-70
Boulder's home mountain. 680 acres, 10 lifts, terrain from beginner greens to the Corona Bowl double blacks. RTD runs a Ski N Ride bus straight from Boulder, so you can ski without a car. Half day laps between screenings are realistic. The Nordic Center adds 40+ kilometers of groomed cross country and snowshoe trails. eldora.com
Winter Park Resort
78 miles · about 1 hr 45 · US-40, no I-70
Colorado's longest continually operated ski resort. Over 3,000 acres, 166 runs, seven distinct territories. The drive runs through Boulder Canyon, Nederland, and over Berthoud Pass. Scenic and not nearly as backed up as I-70. winterparkresort.com
Loveland Ski Area
63 miles · about 1 hr 20 · I-70 Exit 216
Sitting on the Continental Divide right before the Eisenhower Tunnel. 1,800 acres across Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin, free snowcat skiing, free parking, no resort village markup. The most snow of any Front Range accessible mountain. A no frills option for people who just want to ski. skiloveland.com
Summit County (Breck, Keystone, Copper, A-Basin)
80 to 95 miles · about 1 hr 45 to 2 hrs · I-70 West
The big ticket I-70 resorts. Massive terrain, but the drive is weather dependent and weekend traffic on I-70 can be unpredictable. Leave early, come back late, and check CDOT before you go. Weekday trips during the festival will be far easier than weekends. breckenridge.com
Drive Times from Boulder
| Destination | Route | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldora Mountain | Boulder Canyon | 35 min | 21 miles |
| Loveland Ski Area | I-70 West | 1 hr 20 | 63 miles |
| Winter Park | US-40 / Berthoud Pass | 1 hr 45 | 78 miles |
| Breckenridge | I-70 West | 1 hr 50 | 90 miles |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Lyons / Estes Park | 1 hr 15 | 50 miles |
| Denver International Airport | US-36 / E-470 | 45 min | 44 miles |
Lodging for the Festival
Boulder has roughly 4,800 hotel rooms within 10 miles of the festival footprint, with more than 5,000 expected by January 2027. Demand is going to outpace that. Book early or work the short term rental angle through licensed platforms.
Hotels Worth Knowing
St Julien Hotel and Spa
Downtown · Luxury · Flatirons views
Boulder's top full service hotel. Full spa, restaurant, rooftop terrace, two blocks from Pearl Street. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. This is the first hotel to book out. stjulien.com
Hotel Boulderado
Pearl Street · Historic · Since 1909
Victorian landmark a block off Pearl. Stained glass canopy in the lobby, License No. 1 speakeasy downstairs. The rooms in the historic wing have more character than the addition. boulderado.com
Basecamp Boulder
Near CU · Adventure inspired · Walkable
Outdoor lifestyle hotel between Pearl Street and campus. Climbing wall, hot tub, fire pits, free parking. Younger energy. A solid fit for festival visitors who do not need a spa. basecampboulder.com
Embassy Suites Boulder
Canyon Blvd · All suite · Flatirons views
Two room suites, breakfast, evening reception, rooftop pool. Ask for a mountain view suite for a direct line on the Flatirons. Walking distance to CU venues. hilton.com
Colorado Chautauqua Lodging
Chautauqua Park · Cottages · National Historic Landmark
Cottages and historic lodge rooms at the base of the Flatirons. The only continuously operating Chautauqua west of the Mississippi. Walking distance to the Chautauqua Auditorium screening venue. Books up months in advance. chautauqua.com
Overflow options: Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, and Broomfield will absorb spillover. Short term rentals through Airbnb and Vrbo will close the gap between hotel inventory and total festival demand. If you own property and want to participate as a host, head back up to the rental sections above.
Full lodging directory: Visit Boulder's lodging guide.
Getting to Boulder and Around
Most festival venues are within a 15 minute walk of each other. Boulder is compact, bikeable, and built for a car free day if you want one. Getting in from DEN takes about 45 minutes by car and around an hour by bus.
From the Airport
DEN to Boulder is 44 miles, roughly 45 minutes. The RTD AB bus runs hourly for $10.50. Uber or Lyft will run $80 to $100. Visit Boulder transport guide.
Free Festival Transit
Boulder plans to offer free HOP bus service and up to 5,000 shared e bike passes during the festival window.
RTD Bus
Local and regional routes converge at the Boulder Transit Center at 14th and Walnut. rtd-denver.com
Downtown Parking
City garages use gateless QR code entry. Free on weekends and holidays. Flat $3 after 3 PM weekdays.
Ride Share
Uber and Lyft both operate. Expect surge pricing during festival hours, especially right after late screenings.
Eldora Ski Bus
RTD's Ski N Ride bus runs Boulder to Eldora. You do not need a car for a ski day.
Lyons and Estes Park
You need a car. No direct public transit. The US-36 drive north through Lyons to Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best scenic routes in the state.
What Sundance Means for Real Estate
Sundance does not stay inside the theater. A recurring globally recognized event reshapes how a place is perceived, and that reshaping shows up in property values, buyer interest, and rental income.
In Park City, the festival was a real factor in the housing market for four decades. Short term rental income during the festival weeks became a meaningful piece of what buyers were willing to pay for centrally located homes. Values in the walkable neighborhoods reflected that demand.
Boulder's dynamics are different. This is not a resort town. The local economy is anchored by the university, the tech sector, and the federal labs. That diversified base makes the market more resilient than one that depends on tourism. But the Sundance effect is still going to register.
Three Things to Think About
- Supplemental rental income. For owners in walkable neighborhoods, the festival window is a real annual income event. A well managed rental during the 11 days can generate several multiples of a typical January rent, and that repeats every year.
- Broader market visibility. Tens of thousands of visitors are going to see Boulder for the first time. Plenty of them are high net worth individuals, creative professionals, and industry executives. Some of them are going to come back to buy.
- Surrounding communities benefit too. Visitors who cannot find or afford lodging in central Boulder will look outward. Lyons, Longmont, Louisville, and the mountain corridors all stand to pick up overflow demand, both during the festival and as a long term visibility lift.
If you want to understand what Sundance specifically means for your property or your neighborhood, that is a conversation worth having now, not in December. JROC has been watching the festival announcement reshape buyer interest in real time since the deal was signed. We can walk you through what we are seeing.
Sundance in Boulder, Answered
When is the 2027 Sundance Film Festival?
January 21 through January 31, 2027. Year one of the festival's new Boulder home under a 10 year agreement.
Can I rent my home during Sundance?
Yes, with the correct license. Boulder's Festival Lodging Rental License covers up to 29 days per year during approved festivals and does not require the home to be a primary residence. Lyons and unincorporated Boulder County operate under different rules. Confirm with the relevant licensing office before listing.
What is the Festival Lodging Rental License?
A new event specific permit issued by the City of Boulder. Up to 29 days per year during approved festivals. $190 application fee. Non owner occupied properties qualify. Valid for four years. Applications are open.
How do I get tickets?
Not on sale yet for 2027. Packages are expected in October 2026 and single tickets (around $35) in mid January 2027. Sundance memberships ($250+) unlock presale access. festival.sundance.org
What is the economic impact?
$196 million in 2025 (Utah) with over 85,000 attendees. Colorado projects more than $2 billion across the 10 year agreement. Total incentive package: around $70 million ($34M local + $34M state tax credits).
Can I rent my home in Lyons?
Only if it is your principal residence. No festival specific license exists in Lyons. $175 first year, $150 renewal, plus a $2 per night occupancy fee. ADUs, campers, and RVs are not eligible.
How much can I earn?
Park City homeowners regularly cleared three to five times normal nightly rates during the festival, and some covered most of a year of mortgage payments from the festival weeks alone. Boulder will find its own pricing, but the demand dynamics are similar.
Will Sundance change Boulder real estate values?
Visibility and demand should both rise in walkable, centrally located neighborhoods. Surrounding communities like Lyons, Longmont, and Louisville are likely to see lift as well. Don't expect overnight spikes. Expect gradual, compounding effects over years.
Can I ski during the festival?
Yes. Eldora is 35 minutes from downtown and requires no I-70 driving. Winter Park is around 1 hour 45 minutes via Berthoud Pass. Summit County resorts (Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper) sit roughly 2 hours away on I-70, but weekend traffic is unpredictable.
How far is the airport?
Denver International is about 44 miles from Boulder, around 45 minutes in normal traffic. Flat drive, no mountain passes. RTD runs an hourly bus from Boulder to DEN.
Where should I stay?
St Julien Hotel and Spa, Hotel Boulderado, Basecamp Boulder, and Embassy Suites are the in town anchors. Chautauqua cottages sit next to a screening venue. Short term rentals through Airbnb and Vrbo will absorb a lot of demand. Longmont, Louisville, and Lafayette are credible overflow markets.
What is the weather like in January?
Daytime highs in the low 40s, overnight lows in the teens. Dry cold and bright sun at 5,430 feet. Dress in layers. Sunscreen still applies. Altitude can affect visitors from sea level. Hydrate, take day one easy.
Questions About Your Property?
If you want to know what Sundance means for your Boulder home, your rental income potential, or your neighborhood, Jami and Rocco can walk you through it. Real people, real answers, zero guesswork. This is the kind of conversation worth having now, not next December.
Book a Consultation Contact JROC
Call (303) 862-4939 · Email rocco@jrocgroup.com
JROC Properties | Boulder County, Colorado
This guide is for general information and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Rental ordinances and tax rules change. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant jurisdiction and a qualified professional before listing or making investment decisions.