Quick answer: Sundance Boulder lodging is tightest on the first weekend of the festival, with roughly 2,900 hotel rooms in the city and 1,525 homes approved to advertise as of mid-October. Availability improves during the second week.
The Sundance Film Festival makes its Boulder debut January 21–31, 2027, and the first question most visitors ask is where to stay. Passes and ticket packages went on sale October 15, and lodging is already the biggest planning challenge for the city. This guide pulls together what is confirmed as of October 17, 2026, so you can book with fewer surprises.
Orchard Real Estate Boulder is a Boulder Chamber of Commerce member and a Friend of Sundance. We are not part of the festival's organization. For official festival information, always check the Sundance and Visit Boulder links below.
Table of Contents
Sundance Boulder lodging: the snapshot
- Festival dates: January 21–31, 2027. Some attendees will stay as long as 11 days.
- Hotels: Boulder has roughly 2,900 hotel rooms, according to city officials.
- Licensed home rentals: As of mid-October, the city reports 1,848 short-term and festival lodging licenses issued or pending, and 1,525 homes approved to advertise.
- Demand: Airbnb reports searches for Boulder stays during the festival are up 500% from last year.
- Airport distance: Boulder is about 40 miles from Denver International Airport, roughly a 45-minute drive.
What the Sundance Boulder lodging market looks like
Visit Boulder's CEO says Boulder hotels are not sold out, but the first weekend of the festival is tight. Availability opens up noticeably during the second week and second weekend. If a hotel looks full online, call it directly: rooms held for group reservations can hide inventory that does not show up on booking sites.
The festival also runs an official lodging page on its website with hotel rates. Availability there has been limited at many properties, so treat it as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Short-term and festival rentals
The city created a Festival Lodging Rental License so homeowners, and now tenants with owner approval, can rent for up to 29 days a year during a city-approved festival. That is why the number of rentals is so much higher than in a normal January. If you are curious how hosts get licensed, read our explainer on the Boulder festival lodging rental license.
A few things to check before you book a rental:
- Confirm the license. Hosts need a city license, and Visit Boulder lists licensed options. Ask for the license number.
- Compare against the suggested range. Visit Boulder advises hosts to charge about $250–$300 a night for a one-bedroom condo and $1,100–$1,400 a night for a four-bedroom house, based on Park City booking data and January benchmarks. Some early listings were priced several times higher, so shop around.
- Read cancellation terms. Festival schedules and film selections are still taking shape.
Staying outside Boulder
Metro Denver offers more rooms within a short drive, and shuttle buses are expected to connect Boulder with Denver and surrounding communities. Visit Estes Park has also announced free daily shuttles between Boulder and Estes Park from January 21 to 31. Details may change as the festival's transportation plan is finalized, so confirm routes before you rely on them.
Choose your base by venue
Visit Boulder says the festival's venues sit within about two miles of one another, and some are walkable from each other. The distances still matter in January, so pick a base near the venues you will use most.
| Area | Official venues |
|---|---|
| Downtown and Pearl Street | Boulder Theater, Dairy Arts Center (Boedecker and Gordon Gamm theaters), eTown Hall |
| CU Boulder campus | Macky Auditorium, Muenzinger Auditorium, Roe Green Theatre, Old Main |
| Schools | Boulder High School Auditorium, Casey Middle School Auditorium |
| Farther from the core | Cinemark Century Boulder, Chautauqua Auditorium |
The Boulder Public Library's Canyon Theater will host talks and other programming. Connections between the farthest venues can take 50 minutes or more, so a central base saves time. Our venue guide maps every location.
Sundance Boulder lodging booking tips
- Aim for the second week if your schedule is flexible, since hotel availability is better.
- Call hotels directly if the online inventory looks full.
- Verify every rental host's city license before you pay.
- Book near your top venues, and check parking and shuttle plans for your dates.
- Re-check the official sites regularly, because details are updated as the schedule is released.
Sundance Boulder lodging: common questions
How hard is Sundance Boulder lodging to find?
Visit Boulder's CEO says hotels are not sold out, but the first weekend of the festival is the tightest. If rooms do not appear online, call hotels directly.
When is Sundance Boulder lodging easiest to book?
Availability opens up noticeably during the second week and second weekend of the festival, so a flexible schedule helps.
Are rentals a safe choice for Sundance Boulder lodging?
They can be, if the host is licensed. Visit Boulder lists licensed options, and you should ask for the license number and read the cancellation terms before you pay.
Can I stay outside Boulder?
Yes. Metro Denver has more rooms within a short drive, and Visit Estes Park has announced free daily shuttles between Boulder and Estes Park from January 21 to 31.
Official resources
- Sundance Institute for passes, ticket packages and the venue map
- Visit Boulder's Festival Lodging Program
- City of Boulder 2027 Sundance guide
New to the festival? Start with our five things to know about Sundance in Boulder. If you are weighing how the festival affects the local housing market, see Boulder real estate and Sundance.
Questions about Boulder neighborhoods near the venues, or about buying or selling around the festival? Contact Steve deGuzman at steve.deguzman@orchard.com or 720.330.8827.
Information is current as of October 17, 2026 and may change. Always confirm details with the festival, the City of Boulder and Visit Boulder before you book.
