Sundance Film Festival 2026

Park City’s Last Big Hurrah

by Valerie Cameron

How Sundance Began — and Why Utah Mattered

Before Sundance was a global industry moment, it was an idea rooted in independence and innovation. The dream was to have a festival where independent films and filmmakers would be spotlighted and showcased. Founded in 1978 by Robert Redford, the festival was created to give filmmakers outside the studio system a place to be seen — really seen. What started as a modest event grew into the most influential independent film festival in the world, with Park City at its heart. Redford once said Sundance existed to “discover, support, and inspire independent artists.” For nearly five decades, Utah became the place where bold stories broke through — where audiences took chances, careers were launched, and cinema felt personal again.

January 2026 isn’t just another festival year — it’s the closing chapter of an era. The final Sundance in Utah is shaping up to be both a celebration and a goodbye. Alongside premieres from emerging voices and established filmmakers, I still remember my first experience at Sundance. I was not a filmmakers, a critic or even running an event. I was a local headed up to Park City to see the stars and feel the electric excitement while walking main street. Most of us went up the mountain just to say we were there. It was a treat and VIP feeling that we could tell other people that we were there. IT was us, it was Utah. Then it became a tradition as I got older and started working different events at the festival and started running in the locals independent filmmaker scene. IT was a place to socialize, talk about film and be a part of the heartbeat of the season.

Every year I would take my dad up for one day. I could see the pride on his face. Pride that I was involved and pride for what the Festival represented for Utah. He grew up watching Robert Redford movies and was from the time when filmmaking was different than it was now. It seamed almost out of reach for so many people. Making movies seemed like magic and something only few got to be a part of. It all changes for Utah when Sundance came. It became something we could see, touch and immerse ourselves in. It opened the world up to possibilities. Where new upcoming filmmakers could meet and have workshops with the great. It became a bridge of creativity and kept getting bigger.

Sundance 2026 is intentionally looking backward, honoring the films, artists, and moments that defined its legacy here. Festival leadership has described this year as a “love letter” to Utah — a chance to celebrate the snowy sidewalks, packed theaters, and shared sense of discovery that made Sundance feel different from anywhere else. Expect archival screenings, legacy conversations, and moments designed to remind us why this festival mattered so much in the first place.

Over the years, filmmakers have been clear about what Sundance meant to their careers — and their confidence. Director Ava DuVernay once reflected that Sundance was “the place where my voice was validated.” Quentin Tarantino has credited Sundance for proving that independent film could be bold, messy, and successful all at once. Those sentiments echo through 2026, as artists return to the place where many of them were first heard. This final Utah edition isn’t about spectacle — it’s about gratitude. Gratitude for a community that showed up in the cold, trusted unfamiliar names, and believed stories could change people.

There’s no way around it: Sundance leaving Utah is emotional. Economically, culturally, creatively — this festival shaped how the world saw the state. But its legacy doesn’t disappear when the banners come down. Utah remains a place where stories are told, where filmmakers live and work, and where audiences care deeply about cinema. Sundance helped build that foundation. Now, the question isn’t what Utah loses — it’s what Utah becomes next. The final Sundance in Park City is a moment to honor the past, celebrate what was built, and support the next chapter of independent film culture right here at home.

It has been an honor covering the Sundance Film Festival as a member of press for the past 6 years. Although I am a local Salt Lake City Citric, I hope I will get to cover it moving forward and keep the magic of the Sundance Film Festival alive in Utah.

What was your first experience at the Sundance Film Festival? I would love to hear your stories and why the festival means so much to you.

Tickets on-sale now

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival is scheduled for January 22–February 1, 2026, taking place in-person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, with online at-home screenings available from January 29–February 1, 2026,