What Sundance Coming to Boulder Means for Colorado Homeowners

Julie Walker • May 12, 2026

The Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado, and it's already reshaping the state's short-term rental market. With listings for the January 21–31, 2027, festival reaching as high as $100,000 for a 10-night stay, the event is sparking a statewide conversation about what it means to own property in a high-demand Colorado destination and what smart homeowners should be doing about it right now.

We were recently featured on 9NEWS as a go-to voice on exactly that question, and we want to share what we told them.

The Sundance Film Festival, long held in Park City, Utah, is bringing its 10-day event to Boulder for the first time in January 2027. Organizers expect upward of 85,000 attendees to arrive in a city with only about 2,900 hotel rooms. That gap between demand and supply is what's driving the short-term rental surge, and it's why homeowners across the Front Range are paying attention.


Fox’s co-owner, Caleb Dickinson, was featured in a 9NEWS segment, and his message was grounding. While some listings are already asking $100,000 for the full festival window, Caleb was clear that for most homes, a realistic premium is two to three times their typical nightly rate. As he put it directly: if the lodging doesn't work for people who aren't wealthy, the event won't stay in Boulder long term, and that's something we take seriously as a company rooted in this community.


The Sundance buzz isn't just a Boulder story. To us, it's a signal about where Colorado's short-term rental market is heading and what homeowners across the Front Range should be thinking about right now.


In Park City, Sundance Film Festival helped transform a small ski town into a high-demand cultural destination over the decades. During the festival window, homeowners historically earned 3 to 5 times their normal nightly rates, with some covering an entire year's mortgage payments in under two weeks. We believe Colorado is set to build a similar story, and from what we're already seeing, the ripple effects are reaching well beyond Boulder into surrounding communities.



Whether the Sundance surge sparked your curiosity or you've been watching Colorado's short-term rental market for a while, now is a smart time to explore your options. Our Sundance Film Festival property management services are built for exactly this, helping homeowners across Boulder County and the Front Range evaluate their property's potential, navigate licensing requirements, and manage the full guest experience so you don't have to.


Ready to find out what your home is worth for the 2027 season? Contact Fox Property Management today for a free home analysis.

vacation rental deck with hot tub
By Julie Walker • September 25, 2026
Thinking about becoming an Airbnb host for Sundance Film Festival? Here's what Boulder County homeowners need in place before January 2027, from linens to pricing strategy.
eviction notice on door
By Julie Walker • September 21, 2026
Learn how to manage a difficult tenant in Colorado with seven practical tips from Jennifer Fox, founder of Fox Property Management.
property management concept with hand arranging small wooden houses
By Julie Walker • September 15, 2026
Fox Property Management was named among the best Airbnb property management companies in the US. See how we rank in Boulder and Denver.
Pearl Street Boulder Colorado
By Julie Walker • September 10, 2026
Sundance Film Festival property management for Boulder County homeowners. See how Fox prices, prepares, and places guests for the 2027 Festival.
Inside movie theater
By Julie Walker • August 24, 2026
Sundance Film Festival rental demand surge in Boulder, and the time to act is now. See what's driving it and what your home could earn.
Rental Home in Colorado Mountains
By Julie Walker • August 17, 2026
Became an accidental landlord in Colorado? Get practical tips on legal requirements, self-managing, and protecting your investment property.
Home owner holding keys to rental
By Julie Walker • July 30, 2026
Start your Sundance Film Festival rental before key dates hit. See what's ahead and why now is the time to plan your Boulder rental.
Full service property management showing rental to a young couple
By Julie Walker • July 27, 2026
Fox is Boulder's home rental partner, redefining full-service property management through its new Edit Boulder guest experience partnership.
Small green bungalow single family home
By Julie Walker • July 21, 2026
Premier single-family home property management in Boulder County. Trade repair calls for passive monthly ROI and 23 years of local expertise.
A nice, older home with green siding and a white picket fence.
By Julie Walker • July 7, 2026
Fox Property Management featured in The Scout Guide. An ultimate checklist to prep for a Sundance Film Festival rental in Boulder.