Sundance 2027: Pass, Package, or Single-Film Ticket? A Decision Guide
Compare a pass for a longer visit, a package for several planned screenings, and individual tickets for a small number of films. 2027 pricing for all three is now confirmed: single tickets are $37, ticket packages range $275-$925, and Express Passes range $4,500-$7,500. This guide is about matching ticket type to your trip shape rather than just comparing dollar amounts, since a package’s per-ticket cost can run higher than buying singles; see the confirmed prices in our full Tickets & Passes guide.
Our tickets and passes guide covers what each ticket type technically includes. This page is about a narrower question: given your actual trip: how many days, how flexible your schedule is, and how many films you realistically want to see. Which one should you buy? Now that pricing is confirmed, use our cost to attend guide to run the numbers.
Match your trip to a ticket type
You’re staying most or all of the 11-day festival window
If you’re in Boulder for a week or more and want the freedom to add screenings as the lineup and reviews come in, compare a pass’s actual reservation and admission rules with your preferred viewing style. This is also the type most likely to include member/donor early-access windows, historically the first tickets to go on sale.
You have fixed travel dates and know roughly how many films you’ll see
A package bundles screening access under its own terms. It is better value only if the cost and the tickets you can actually use justify it. This is the common choice for a long-weekend or single-week trip where you already know your travel dates but want some flexibility in which films you pick.
You’re attending a handful of specific films, or your dates are still uncertain
Single tickets go on sale later, in early January 2027, once the full schedule is public, so they suit visitors who want to pick exact films and showtimes rather than commit to a bundle months ahead. For a late decision, check which official products remain available rather than assuming any particular product will still be on sale.
You’re not traveling to Boulder at all
If you’re watching from home during the January 28–31, 2027 public online window, none of the in-person ticket types apply. See our watch online guide for what’s confirmed about the streaming option.
Questions to ask yourself before choosing
| Question | Points toward |
|---|---|
| Are your travel dates locked in yet? | Yes, fixed dates → Package. No, still flexible → Pass or wait for single tickets. |
| How many films do you realistically want to see? | Compare total cost against the number of screenings you can actually attend; no fixed break-even count is confirmed. |
| Do you want to plan every screening in advance, or decide as you go? | Check the reservation rules of the exact product; do not assume every pass allows walk-in access. |
| Are you a Sundance Institute member or donor? | Check the early-access window on our tickets guide before choosing. |
| Is your trip mainly about a few specific must-see titles? | Single tickets, purchased once the lineup and schedule are public. |
What’s now confirmed
Sundance has now published full 2027 pricing. A Full Festival Ticket Package is $925 for 10 tickets ($92.50/ticket), an Encore Package is $675 for 10 tickets ($67.50/ticket), a Second Half Package is $450, a Matinee Package is $350, and an Ignite Package (ages 18-25) is $275; a Single Film Ticket is $37. Because per-ticket package pricing runs higher than buying singles at $37 each, a package’s real advantage is early access to screening selection before single tickets go on public sale (January 8, 2027) and the flexibility to change your picks up to 4 hours before showtime, not a lower per-film price. See our full tickets and passes guide for every product and rule. See our step-by-step buying guide for the purchase process and the ticket sale calendar for exact on-sale dates.
Calculate value using screenings you will attend
Divide the full product cost, including compulsory fees, by the number of screenings you realistically expect to use. Do not divide by every included ticket if your travel dates, reservation availability or schedule prevent you from using them.
Illustrative example only: a hypothetical $300 bundle with ten tickets costs $30 per film if you use all ten, but $50 per film if you use six. Six hypothetical $40 individual tickets would cost $240. These numbers demonstrate the calculation; they are not Sundance 2027 prices.
| Check | Record for each option |
|---|---|
| Total cost | Product price plus mandatory fees for your exact eligibility and guest count |
| Usable access | Screenings within your travel dates and compatible with your other commitments |
| Reservation rules | Whether seats must be selected, when selection opens and how admission works |
| Restrictions | Eligible venues, film types, online access, transfer and refund conditions |
| Fallback | Whether alternate showings fit if your first choice is unavailable |
Start with the official festival site for current products. The 2027 announcement gives the sale-month sequence. Use our checkout checklist before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Festival Pass always the best value?
Not necessarily. A pass only pays off if you actually attend enough screenings to bring its per-film cost below a package or single tickets. If your schedule is uncertain or you’ll likely miss some days, compare the smallest commitment that covers your realistic plan.
Can I switch ticket types after buying?
We haven’t seen official Sundance Institute guidance on this for 2027. Assume ticket types are not interchangeable once purchased and choose carefully at the point of sale.
What if I can’t decide before passes go on sale?
Passes and packages go on public sale October 15, 2026, well before the December lineup announcement. If you’re not ready to commit, waiting for single-film tickets on public sale January 8, 2027 is a reasonable fallback, though popular titles may already be selling out by then.
Primary sources cited on this page
Sundance Institute official announcements (planned ticket structure and timing) as reported via Boulder Reporting Lab’s coverage of the “Shape of the Fest” announcement. Cross-referenced against our own tickets and passes page, which carries its own detailed sourcing and update history.
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| August 21, 2026 | Page published as a decision guide for choosing between ticket types, cross-linked from the main tickets guide. |