On Thursday, Sundance announced its plans to move the festival to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027, citing the city’s small-town charm and vibrant arts scene.

“The Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 is a moment to preserve and build on its four decades and continue its journey,” Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez said in a release.

The Sundance Institute recently made clear its plans to relocate the festival when its contract with Park City ended in 2026, citing that it had outgrown the mountain town. Salt Lake City was one of three finalists for relocation, along with Boulder and Cincinnati.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox responded to the festival’s decision to leave Utah on Thursday, calling the move “a mistake.”

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“While we’re disappointed by Sundance’s decision to leave Utah, we wish them continued success in their next chapter,” Cox said. “For more than 40 years, Utah has supported the Sundance Film Festival to become a global force in film, art and culture.

“As I’ve said from the beginning, we wanted Sundance to stay. We made that clear to their leadership and put together a highly competitive package. Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make — but I believe it’s a mistake, and that one day, they’ll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage.”

The festival began in Salt Lake City in 1978 and was called the Utah/United States Film Festival. It moved to Park City in 1981. In 1985, the Sundance Institute, established by Robert Redford, took control of the event.

It became known as the Sundance Film Festival in 1991 and grew into a popular Hollywood event, with movie stars flocking to Utah every winter to discover and support independent storytellers. Sundance also served as an economic boon for the Utah economy, delivering an estimated $132 million into the state in 2024.

Several box-office hits premiered at the Park City festival, including “Get Out,” “The Blair Witch Project,” “Manchester by the Sea” and “Napoleon Dynamite,” which was created by Brigham Young University alum Jared Hess.

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“Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization,” Redford said in a statement. “What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival.”

With the loss of the festival, attention now shifts toward the future. Cox hinted at plans of creating a new film festival in the state, expressing his desire to build a “world-class film economy right here in Utah.”

Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club owner Ryan Smith chimed in on social media in support of the governor.

“Building the next (generation) film festival in Utah sounds like a blast,” Smith said. “The outpouring of people wanting to help support a fresh new experience starting from scratch is remarkable. (Smith Entertainment Group) is 100% committed to joining Gov. Cox, the state, and local leaders to make this happen.”