The Sundance Film Festival commences this Thursday in Park City, Utah, for a final, poignant edition. The 2026 festival marks the end of an era, as the iconic event prepares to leave its longtime mountain home and navigate its future without its revered founder, Robert Redford, who passed away last September.
A Festival in Transition: Honouring a Legacy
This year's event, running for ten days from Thursday 22 January 2026, will be a familiar whirlwind of premieres, stars, and cinematic discovery. Attendees can expect everything from anticipated dramas to quirky genre-defying works across 90 featured films. Yet a profound sense of change underpins the festivities. The festival is not only saying goodbye to Park City but also celebrating the indelible mark left by Redford.
His legacy will be a central theme, with screenings of restored classics from the festival's history, including Little Miss Sunshine and House Party, alongside Redford's own 1969 indie breakthrough, Downhill Racer. A special institute fundraiser will honour filmmakers like Chloé Zhao and Ed Harris, whose careers were nurtured by Sundance.
"Sundance has always been about showcasing and fostering independent movies in America. Without that, so many filmmakers wouldn’t have had the careers they have," said veteran director Gregg Araki, a fixture since 1992.
Star-Studded Lineup and Documentary Power
The 2026 selection remains a powerful launchpad for diverse voices. The programme boasts a significant number of films featuring major Hollywood talent. These include Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega in Cathy Yan's satire The Gallerist, and Chris Pine starring in the romantic drama Carousel. Olivia Wilde appears both in front of and behind the camera, featuring in Araki's new film I Want Your Sex and directing The Invite with Seth Rogen.
Pop star Charli XCX also makes multiple appearances, highlighting the festival's continued cultural crossover. The documentary slate is equally robust, tackling urgent global issues and profiling famous figures. Films explore subjects from the war in Gaza (American Doctor) and activist assassinations (Who Killed Alex Odeh) to portraits of Brittney Griner, Courtney Love, and Salman Rushdie.
Looking Ahead to a New Home in Boulder
For many attendees, this final Park City edition is bittersweet. Filmmaker Jay Duplass, whose career was launched here in 2003, noted the unique atmosphere: "It’s just a super special place where... there are going to be movies there with giant stars and there’s also going to be some kids there who made movies for a few thousand dollars. And they’re all going to mix."
Yet the need for growth has long been acknowledged. Next year, the Sundance Film Festival will establish its new base in Boulder, Colorado. While iconic Park City venues like the Egyptian Theatre will be missed, the core mission remains. As Gregg Araki reflected, "The legacy and the tradition of Sundance will continue no matter where it is." The 2026 festival thus stands as both a heartfelt farewell and a determined step into an uncharted future for independent cinema.
