Sundance’s final edition in Park City will include a tribute to its founder, the late Robert Redford, as well as anniversary screenings of films that helped put the independent festival on the map.
Sundance organizers revealed on Tuesday the first wave of programming details for the 2026 edition, which will be held from Jan. 22 through Feb. 1. This will be the final year it’s held in Park City before the festival moves to Boulder, Colo. in 2027.
Next year’s festival will serve as a “meaningful tribute to Robert Redford and his vision that has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema around the world,” Sundance said in a press release. Redford, a leading man turned Oscar-winning director, died in September at age 89. In his honor, Sundance will present a commemorative screening of 1969’s “Downhill Racer” — Redford’s first independent film and a passion project that served as the catalyst to create the Sundance Institute and film Festival. Then throughout the festival, there will be gatherings including “Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford” event, Salt Lake City Celebration event, and the Directors Brunch at Sundance Mountain Resort where the 2026 filmmakers will convene.
“This will be an especially poignant year for us as we reflect on the vision of our late founder, Robert
Redford, who redefined cinema and provided a home for generations of artists when he created Sundance Institute,” says Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez. “We’re looking forward to honoring the festival’s time in Park City and Robert Redford’s legacy. His fearless support of artistic integrity and risk-taking is at the core of the work we continue to do, and the 2026 Festival will be a celebration of that important mission.”
A legacy program, devoted to past festival favorites, will take place from Jan. 27 through Jan. 30. The lineup includes “Little Miss Sunshine” (featuring a new digital restoration), as well as James Wan’s “Saw,” Reginald Hudlin’s “House Party,” Ryan Fleck’s “Half Nelson,” Barbara Kopple’s documentary “American Dream” and the late Lynn Shelton’s “Humpday.”
A full lineup of world premieres will be announced later this year.
“The program announced today carries special significance as we mark and honor this year’s festival in Utah and is the start to a full slate of projects to be unveiled in the coming weeks,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance’s director of programming. “This coming January we’re looking forward to hosting our community of alumni, artists, industry, staff, and volunteers with deep connections to the festival in Utah as they come together in celebration of a place so meaningful to us all.”
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From Variety US