Join the Crew
Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox
Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox
Loring is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and creative producer. His work has been commissioned by a diverse range of clients- from Havas Worldwide to Wisecrack, inc.- and has been screened around the world. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
The Sundance Film Festival needs no introduction. For nearly half a century, it has been the showcase for independent films and filmmakers in the U.S. The movies premiered and deals struck at Sundance kickstart the conversation, the culture, and the industry of cinema every single year.
From the looks of it, Sundance Film Festival 2026 will be no exception.
If you’re lucky enough to attend the upcoming fest, this post is for you. Below, we’ll take a look at what makes Sundance so special, outline key events from this year’s schedule, and show you how to get ready for the Sundance Film Festival 2026.
The Sundance Film Festival got its start back in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival, an event designed to both celebrate American independent films and encourage local filmmaking within the state of Utah. The name changed in 1984, when the famous Sundance Institute began organizing the fest. However, its mission remains the same.
Today, the Sundance Film Festival stands tall among the world’s finest celebrations of cinema. From shorts to features, Sundance regularly champions indie gems that will go on to become classics and provides a platform for emerging artists who the public will one day regard as masters of their craft.
As the Sundance Film Festival 2026 quickly approaches, the upcoming fest shows no signs of breaking tradition. The screenings, events, and casual conversations that take place at Sundance will impact the film industry over the next year and beyond.
Before we jump into a detailed overview of the event, let’s answer a few important questions.
The Sundance Film Festival has opened in January every year since 1981, making it one of the earliest major fests in the annual cycle. This year, Sundance Film Festival dates run from January 22 to February 1, 2026. Attendees can experience 11 jam-packed days of movies, conversations, and—of course—parties that they will never forget.
In-person tickets can be purchased at varying rates for all or just a portion of Sundance Film Festival dates and events. Further ticketing details are available below.
The Sundance Film Festival 2026 will once again be held in Park City, Utah. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Park City is a major ski destination whose creature comforts make it the perfect hideaway for a festival. Park City has been virtually synonymous with Sundance since 1981.
However, that will soon change. Starting in 2027, the Sundance Film Festival location will permanently relocate to Boulder, Colorado.
The Sundance Film Festival provides filmmakers both a platform and an experience. Every day, the fest offers a variety of official events. Every night, the fest unofficially hosts meetings and parties with major film professionals from all around the world.
Here’s a small sample of the daily opportunities that attendees can expect:
Of course, the ultimate Sundance experience is to have your movie screened as part of the fest. Sundance Film Festival movies regularly launch careers and introduce fresh voices to their first wide audience. The fest is also an active marketplace, with major production and distribution companies attending in search of their next big projects.
The Sundance Film Festival attracts both industry luminaries and exciting new voices. Here are a few projects and filmmakers you might want to keep an eye on at this year’s fest.
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival marks the end of an era. It will represent not only the fest’s last appearance in Park City but also the first fest to be held after the passing of Sundance founder, Robert Redford. Fittingly, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival will pay tribute to its leader across its full duration, celebrating “his legacy, vision, and enduring mission to support independent storytellers.”
The centerpiece of this dedication will be Sundance's annual fundraiser, this year titled Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford.
The event will honor not only Redford but the spirit of Sundance as a whole by establishing the Robert Redford Luminary Award and awarding it to Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag, “two artists deeply dedicated to the Sundance Institute Labs and committed to elevating bold storytellers.”
Pop star and noted cinephile Charli XCX features in not one but three separate projects at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. She joins the power-packed ensembles of both Cathy Yan’s The Gallerist and Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex. Her third appearance comes in Aidan Zamiri’s The Moment, a feature based on an original idea from Charli XCX herself.
The Moment blends reality and fantasy, satirizing all things Brat through a mix of scripted scenes and genuine concert footage. The result is a rare cinematic experience enabled by Charli XCX’s unique combination of public image and personal point-of-view. The Moment has already secured a release from A24 on January 30, 2026, just a few weeks after its Sundance premiere.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass represents the fifth film to premiere at Sundance from director David Wain of Wet Hot American Summer fame. Co-written with actor and long-time collaborator Ken Marino, the film places an “unhinged screwball comedy” right at the heart of Sundance 2026.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass follows “a wide-eyed Gail (a delightfully inspired Zoey Deutch) and her fellow hairdresser/bestie Otto on their quest to find and seduce Gail’s celebrity crush, the enigmatic and beguiling Jon Hamm.”
As is often the case in the City of Angels, things don’t quite go as planned, and Gail’s “frenzied hunt for Hamm” spirals into an increasingly wild adventure.
Sundance Film Festival submissions come from far and wide. Movies from first-time filmmakers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those from seasoned veterans of the craft. The fest is a rare opportunity to experience projects from across the entire cinematic spectrum.
Below, we’ll provide just a small taste of what Sundance has on tap for this year’s attendees.
The fifth feature from director Rachel Lambert, Carousel tells the story of a divorced doctor whose “carefully constructed life in Cleveland is upended when his daughter’s debate aspirations and the unexpected return of a past love force him to confront his own choices and embrace a second chance.”
Starring Chris Pine alongside a supporting cast that includes Katey Sagal, Jenny Slate, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Sam Waterston, Carousel promises a soft-spoken meditation on the perils of love and time. You can catch the film’s World Premiere at Sundance 2026 or online with one of the festival’s digital passes.
The Musical is the first Sundance premiere and debut feature film of director Giselle Bonilla. The film follows a frustrated playwright and middle school teacher who discovers that his ex-girlfriend has started dating his arch nemesis, the school’s principal. The playwright/teacher decides to take his revenge by staging “the most inappropriate middle school musical imaginable.”
Featuring Rob Lowe as the film’s principal antagonist, The Musical spins a Shakespearean tale of revenge that flies in the face of audience expectations. Sure to make jaws drop in laughter and horror alike, The Musical is one Sundance premiere that you’ll never forget.
The new Park City Legacy program will honor the Sundance Film Festival’s long history in Utah with screenings of past festival hits. The series will highlight special anniversaries and new restorations of previous Sundance films across all genres.
Here are a few screenings that have been confirmed so far:
The Park City Legacy Program is scheduled for the festival’s second half from January 27 through January 30.
Sundance Film Festival tickets are available for purchase in a variety of packages, empowering attendees to customize their experience and focus on what matters most to them. In general, Sundance ticket packages break down into two main categories: in-person and online.
In-person tickets may be acquired on an individual or bulk package basis. Package prices currently run from as low as $275 all the way up to $6,900. Tickets for single screenings may be purchased for $35 each.
Individual tickets are not yet available for purchase but will be soon. Guests may purchase single film tickets from January 14, 2026 until the end of the fest.
Like their in-person counterparts, online tickets may be purchased on an individual or bulk basis. However, the package options are more limited.
Currently, online guests may purchase complete access to the Sundance online program, a 10-ticket festival package, a pass for short film screenings only, or tickets for single films. All virtual screenings will be available on-demand for the duration of the festival. Prices range from $35 for individual screenings up to $815 for the full online festival pass.
Again, single tickets are not yet available for purchase.Like their in-person counterparts, individual online screening tickets will become available from January 14, 2025 through the end of the festival.
Note that the availability of all online and in-person ticket packages is limited. Be sure to purchase yours as soon as possible.
The Sundance Film Festival 2026 is a can’t-miss event for indie filmmakers and cinephiles everywhere. Lock in your online or in-person tickets now for a festival experience that will help define the next year in movies.
If you’re a filmmaker entering the fest circuit, be sure to check out our guides for readying your festival submissions and mastering your film festival run.
