Overview
- The 2026 festival, the last in Utah, is underway in Park City with tributes to founder Robert Redford following his September passing.
- Many longtime attendees say they will not follow the event to Colorado, voicing concerns that moving will alter the festival’s identity.
- The institute says it outgrew Park City and had developed an exclusivity that distracted from the work on screen; Redford endorsed the move and the creative labs will stay at his Utah resort.
- Politics have been prominent on Main Street, with protests against ICE and public statements from high-profile attendees including Elijah Wood and Natalie Portman.
- Utah officials point to a robust film sector — 36 incentive-supported productions in 2025 generating about $136 million and more than 2,600 jobs — as evidence the state’s industry will remain strong after Sundance departs.