An image of the atmosphere on Main Street in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Jemal Countess/Courtesy of Sundance Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment The Sundance Film Festival is preparing for a final bow in Park City, Utah. Festival officials unveiled Tuesday the first wave of programming details for next year's edition - scheduled for Jan. 22 - Feb. 1, 2026 - the final Sundance at its longtime home before moving to Boulder, Colorado, for 2027 and beyond. Pieces of intel revealed include the Park City Legacy program with archival screenings of high-profile festival selections, artist talks with boldfaced name alumni and more special events. Before getting deep into the details, top of mind for many in Hollywood will be how Sundance will pay tribute to its beloved founder, Robert Redford, who passed away last month at 89. Related Stories TV George R.R. Martin on Helping Robert Redford Get 'Dark Winds' to TV and Status of 'Wild Cards' Series: "Maybe Eventually, but Not Today" Lifestyle The Hollywood Insider's Guide to Santa Fe, Capital of Tamalewood Per the fest, the entire event will serve as a "meaningful tribute" to Redford and his vision, not only the fest itself but the Sundance Institute, which has served as a launching and learning pad for countless filmmakers, producers and writers. In addition to "gatherings that uplift the mission he envisioned" throughout the festival - such as a Directors Brunch at Sundance Mountain Resort and a Salt Lake City celebration - Redford will be the focal point of the festival's annual marquee fundraiser. Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford will take place at the start of the festival. Sundance will also present a commemorative screening of Michael Ritchie's Downhill Racer, a drama that cast Redford as quietly cocky David Chappellet, who joins the U.S. ski team only to clash with its coach, Eugene Claire, played by Gene Hackman. The 1969 film marked Redford's first independent film and the experience served as a catalyst that led him to create Sundance. The Park City Legacy program, scheduled for the fest's second half on Jan. 27-30, encompasses screenings of past festival favorites and standout titles spanning a variety of genres. It is poised to be a nostalgia bonanza with talent (directors and select cast) from each title expected to make the trek to Park City for the showings. The program spotlights special anniversaries and will feature brand-new digital restorations of Little Miss Sunshine from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, House Party from Reginald Hudlin, Half Nelson from Ryan Fleck, American Dream from Barbara Kopple and Mysterious Skin from Gregg Araki, as well as a recent restoration of Saw from James Wan. The series will also feature an archival screening of the late Lynn Shelton's Humpday. More to come: A retrospective short film program and the full lineup of world premieres from emerging and established filmmakers that will run throughout the fest. Full details on confirmed participants are below. A teaser for the films being presented at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival as part of its legacy program. From top center, left to right: Mysterious Skin, American Dream, Little Miss Sunshine, Downhill Racer, Half Nelson, Humpday, House Party, Saw. "We are not just screening classic films at the festival, but we're shining a light on film preservation," Nein added. Courtesy of Sundance "We have been so moved by the coverage, outpouring, love, stories and just the incredible response that Mr. Redford's passing has had on his fans, the community and the industry. For us, it's been very grounding and very clarifying to be putting together this festival that will have a culmination in Utah this year at a time when we're also honoring and celebrating the legacy of the man who created the Institute and this festival," offered Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundance Film Festival and public programming, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "It will be a very emotional, significant and fun festival this year as we try to do our best to honor that legacy and that impact." Hernandez added that the Sundance team has also fielded a lot of incoming outreach from "amazing artists, filmmakers, actors and industry folks" that want to participate in the festival in some capacity as a way to celebrate Redford and this final Utah bow. John Nein, Sundance Film Festival senior programmer and director of strategic initiatives, added that next year's program "is very much a reflection" of Redford's vision and his values by way of the legacy screenings (done in collaboration with longtime partners at the UCLA Film & Television Archive), artist talks and special events, which serve the purpose of bringing community together. "The communit