Sundance 2027 Overlaps With Denver’s National Western Stock Show: What Visitors Should Know
QUICK ANSWER
Confirmed: the 2027 National Western Stock Show runs January 9 to 24 in Denver, according to its official schedule, overlapping with the first four days of Sundance 2027 in Boulder, January 21 to 31. The two events sit in different cities roughly 30 miles apart, but they draw on the same regional airport, highway corridor, and, for some visitors, the same Denver-area hotel rooms. Neither Sundance Institute nor the City of Boulder has publicly addressed this overlap, so treat any effect on pricing or traffic as something to plan around, not a confirmed problem.
Last verified: September 23, 2026
The overlap, by the numbers
| Fact | Status |
|---|---|
| National Western Stock Show 2027 dates: January 9-24, in Denver | Confirmed |
| Sundance 2027 dates: January 21-31, in Boulder | Confirmed |
| Overlap window: January 21-24, 2027, four days | Confirmed, calculated from official dates |
| National Western Stock Show 2023 attendance: 702,698 | Confirmed, most recent published figure |
| National Western Stock Show 2023 economic impact: $171 million | Confirmed |
| Whether Sundance or Boulder officials have addressed the overlap | Pending, not yet addressed publicly |
The National Western Stock Show is centered at the National Western Complex in north Denver, near Interstate 70 and Interstate 25, a different venue and neighborhood entirely from Sundance’s downtown Boulder and CU Boulder footprint, and roughly 30 miles away by highway. It runs 16 days each January and is one of the largest annual events in the state. The 702,698 attendance figure is the most recent one National Western has published, from its analysis of the 2023 show, alongside a $171 million economic impact estimate credited to the Common Sense Institute. Sundance’s first four days, January 21 through 24, 2027, fall inside that 16-day run. Neither event’s organizers have published guidance addressing the overlap directly, so this is a scheduling fact worth knowing, not evidence of an actual price or capacity problem.
Why it matters
If you are flying into Denver International Airport, renting a car, or considering a Denver hotel as an alternative to Boulder lodging, as covered in our guide to staying in Denver for Sundance 2027, this four-day overlap means two of Colorado’s largest annual events will be drawing on some of the same regional infrastructure at once. Our transit and shuttle guide for reaching Boulder and our page on getting to and around Boulder cover the routes most likely to feel the effect of two major events sharing the same highway corridor.
What we’re watching
We’re watching whether Denver-area hotel rates during the January 21-24 overlap run higher than they do later in the festival, and for any official comment from Visit Boulder, Sundance Institute, or Denver-area tourism bodies acknowledging the two events share a calendar window.
