Beginning in 2027, just one year shy of its 50th anniversary, the Sundance Film Festival is heading eastward.

Not that far eastward though; the annual new movie showcase will pack out of its current digs in Park City, Utah and hop over the Colorado border to settle in Boulder.

Festival organizers have been on the hunt for a new location for a few years now, and on Thursday, the Colorado Governor’s Office announced that their city would be hosting the January, 2027 event.

“Colorado is thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to its new home in Boulder starting in 2027,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement. “Here in our state we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture. Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants.”

Sundance’s official site included this message. “Boulder offers small-town charm with an engaged community, distinctive natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene, making it the ideal location for the Festival to grow.”

Sundance already has plans for the city mapped out, saying, “we envision the heart of the Festival centered in downtown Boulder utilizing a wide array of theaters and venues, and incorporating spaces around the Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian-only street. Nearby spaces will offer dedicated locations for our community to gather, including select spots on the nearby University of Colorado (CU) Boulder campus.”

As for the 2026 festival, the last one to be held in Utah, Sundance said the event, running from January 22nd to February 1st 2026, “we’re looking forward to gathering once again, introducing audiences to the visionary artists and vital stories we’ll be talking about all year long.”

Naturally, Park City denizens and representatives are not thrilled to be losing the festival. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said back in January that, “Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance,” and wished organizers luck in the future.

After the announcement on Thursday, Cox posted the following to his social media. “Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make — but I believe it’s a mistake, and that one day, they’ll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage.”

Until now, the Sundance Film Festival has always been in Utah, since the showcase was established back in 1978 by the head of Robert Redford’s film company Wildwood Enterprises. Salt Lake City was the first host, and the festival was created in hopes of bringing more filmmakers to Utah. Park City has hosted the event since 1981.