Planning to attend the Sundance Film Festival when it makes its Boulder debut in January?
After more than four decades in Utah, Sundance is entering a new chapter in Colorado—and there’s already plenty to know before the festival arrives. The Sundance Institute recently unveiled its 2027 festival website, offering a first look at ticketing options, key dates, venues, maps and other details for the January 21-31 event.
The move to Boulder also comes with an expanded festival. Sundance plans to increase the size of its four central competition categories, add more films to several other sections and expand its Offscreen programming. New Frontier, the festival’s experimental program exploring the intersection of art, cinematic storytelling and emerging technologies, will also return after a two-year hiatus.
“There is something magical about experiencing stories with people you don’t know,” says Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundance Film Festival and public programming. “These experiences bring us together, and being a part of this community creates the memories we take home with us. Our whole team is working hand in hand every day to build the new foundation for our festival with our incredible partners in Boulder.
Whether you’re planning to spend all 11 days immersed in independent film or simply want to catch a few highly anticipated premieres, here’s what you need to know to start planning your 2027 Sundance experience.
Sundance Pass and Ticket Sale Dates
Be sure to mark your calendar, as festival passes and ticket packages go on sale to the public starting October 15 at 10 a.m. MT. If you join as a member by October 1, you can gain access to the pre-sale on October 13 at 10 a.m. MT. Major donors gain access even earlier in the month.
Sundance Ticketing Options
Full Festival Ticket Package
Designed for serious festivalgoers, the $925 Full Festival Ticket Package offers the most comprehensive way to experience Sundance in person, with 10 tickets that can be used for in-person screenings throughout the entire festival. It also gives you early access to film selection, making it possible to plan ahead for premieres, award winners, filmmaker Q&As, short films and episodic programs. It’s a good fit for attendees planning to see a lot of films and wanting priority access when selecting their screenings.
Single Film Tickets
For the most straightforward option, Single Film Tickets cost $37 and let you choose a specific screening of a premiere, feature film, short film program or episodic program. Tickets go on sale to donors January 6, members January 7 and the general public January 8, making this a good choice for festivalgoers who want to build their own lineup one film at a time.
Encore Ticket Package
New for 2027, the $675 Encore Ticket Package includes 10 tickets to in-person encore screenings, plus early access to choose films before single tickets go on sale. The package can be used for award-winning films, select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As, short films and episodic programs, giving festivalgoers a flexible way to experience some of Sundance’s highlights.
Matinee Ticket Package
Also new this year, the $350 Matinee Ticket Package includes 10 tickets to in-person film screenings before 5 p.m. from Jan. 25–29, along with early access to choose films before single tickets go on sale. The package offers a chance to catch award-winning films, select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As, short films and episodic programs.
Ignite Single Film Tickets
Students and young adults ages 18-25 can see Sundance films for just $15 with the Ignite Single Film Ticket presented by Adobe. After registering for the program, eligible attendees can purchase discounted tickets to screenings across the festival, including up to two tickets per film and 20 total tickets. Registration opens December 8; tickets go on sale January 8.
Ignite Ticket Package
For younger festivalgoers looking for more than the discounted single-ticket option, the $275 Ignite Ticket Package presented by Adobe offers a broader Sundance experience for attendees ages 18-25. The package includes 10 tickets to in-person screenings, five online screening tickets and early access to choose films before single tickets go on sale, along with invitations to exclusive Ignite events.
Second Half Ticket Package
For festivalgoers planning to focus on the final days of Sundance, the $450 Second Half Ticket Package includes 10 tickets to in-person screenings from Jan. 27-31, plus early access to choose films before Single Film Tickets go on sale. It’s a flexible way to catch award-winning films, select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As, short films and episodic programs.
Second Half Express Pass
For $4,500, the Second Half Express Pass gives one attendee unlimited access to in-person film screenings during the final five days of the festival. Passholders also get priority entry at screening venues and select Offscreen panels and conversations, plus access to select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As. No advance reservations or individual tickets are required, although admission is first-come, first-seated and passholders must be in line at least 15 minutes before showtime. The pass does not include the Festival Gala or Press & Industry screenings.
Full Festival Express Pass
Available exclusively to top-tier donors, the $7,500 Full Festival Express Pass offers unlimited in-person screenings throughout the entire festival, including premieres and award winners. Passholders also receive priority entry at screening venues and Offscreen panels and conversations, plus access to select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As.
First Half Express Pass
Also only available to top-tier donors, the $6,100 First Half Express Pass provides unlimited access to in-person screenings during the first six days of the festival, including premieres. Passholders also receive priority entry at screening venues and Offscreen panels and conversations, as well as access to select screenings with live filmmaker introductions and Q&As.
What’s New for 2027
Sundance is expanding as it moves to Boulder, with all four central competition categories growing to 12 films each, while sections such as Premieres, NEXT, Midnight and Family Matinee will also get bigger. Offscreen programming is expanding, too, with new offerings including live podcast recordings.
New Frontier also returns after a two-year hiatus. The experimental program explores the intersection of film, art and emerging technologies, championing artists who push the boundaries of traditional storytelling through interdisciplinary and unconventional work. Sundance paused the program to assess the rapidly changing media landscape and how emerging technologies are reshaping storytelling; now, it’s returning as part of the festival’s 2027 Boulder debut.
The Festival is also adding new awards from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), while World Cinema Grand Jury Prize winners will now qualify for consideration in the Oscars’ International Feature Film category.
Upcoming Sundance Events
Superior Chili & Beer Fest – September 12
Head to Superior’s Community Park on September 12 for an afternoon of chili, beer and community fun. Sundance will have a booth at the free Chili Fest, which includes unlimited chili samples while supplies last, while Beer Fest tickets add unlimited samples from beverage vendors.
Nuisance Bear – September 18
Catch the Sundance 2026 U.S. Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary Nuisance Bear at the Breckenridge Film Festival on September 18. The film follows a polar bear navigating a landscape of tourists, wildlife officers and hunters, with filmmakers Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman joining for a post-screening Q&A.
Forging Our Own Way in the Industry – September 20
Independent documentary filmmakers take center stage at this September 20 forum at Denver’s Sie Film Center, exploring challenges in the film industry and brainstorming more accessible, sustainable paths forward. The program features Third Act, clips from HBO’s The A-List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas and the short My Name is Not Amy, followed by a conversation with several filmmakers.
