Sundance's Final Park City Hurrah: Ski and Celebrate in Style

Industry insiders share top tips for where to stay, dine and play during Sundance's last Utah season before the festival moves to Colorado.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:55pm

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With the Sundance Film Festival relocating to Boulder, Colorado in 2027 and Park City set to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, the ski town is at a pivotal moment. As the festival's founder Robert Redford recently passed away, this year's Sundance celebration is bittersweet. Industry insiders with second homes in Park City share their top recommendations for where to stay, dine, and ski during the festival and beyond.

Why it matters

Sundance's move to Colorado marks the end of an era, as the festival has been inextricably linked to Park City for decades. This year's event is a poignant farewell to the festival's Utah roots and the vision of its late founder, Robert Redford, who transformed Park City into a global cultural destination. As the town prepares to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, this transition represents a shift in Park City's identity.

The details

Despite a slow start to winter, recent storms have provided a solid base, allowing for open runs and uncrowded on-mountain dining, one of the festival's perks. Deer Valley has undergone a major expansion, adding new lifts, runs, and a high-tech snowmaking system. The Stein Eriksen Lodge remains an industry favorite for après-ski, while Canyons Village offers a less crowded alternative with its own village of shops and restaurants. Main Street is packed during Sundance, but the slopes are empty, making it an ideal time for skiing.

  • Sundance Film Festival is in its final Utah season before relocating to Boulder, Colorado in 2027.
  • Park City is set to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
  • Sundance founder Robert Redford recently passed away.

The players

Robert Redford

The founder of the Sundance Film Festival, who transformed Park City into a global cultural destination.

Eugene Hernandez

The festival director and head of programming for the Sundance Film Festival.

Steve Richards

A film producer whose films have been featured at the Sundance Film Festival.

Meredith Marks

A star of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who has a second home in Park City.

Tiffany Kuzon

A talent manager at Mosaic.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very sad to see the festival go. To me, Park City and the Sundance Film Festival are in the DNA of one another, and I hope they cross paths again.”

— Steve Richards, Film Producer (The Hollywood Reporter)

“On a personal note, Mr. Redford's vision ignited my own journey when I made my way to the Sundance fest for the first time in 1993. The experience changed my life, so I join all of us who celebrate Utah and this dynamic home for independent, global storytelling that he built.”

— Eugene Hernandez, Festival Director and Head of Programming, Sundance Film Festival (The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s next

The 2034 Winter Olympics in Park City will be a major event following the Sundance Film Festival's departure, as the town transitions to a new era.

The takeaway

Sundance's final Park City event marks the end of an era, as the festival and the town have been inextricably linked for decades. While it's a bittersweet farewell, the town's upcoming hosting of the 2034 Winter Olympics signals a new chapter for Park City, as it evolves beyond its role as the home of the renowned independent film festival.