RSVP Sundance 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Pop-Ups, Lounges, Parties, and More in Park City’s Final Dance
2026 marks the festival’s last year in its iconic Utah home and you would think there would be a glimmer of what used to be. Back in the day, every gallery, restaurant and office lining the steep center of Park City’s Old Town morphed into facade highlighting a well-known brand’s ‘hub’ or ‘lounge, where filmmakers, celebs, media and publicists networked and vibed. Though some of the familiar sponsors like Acura, Dropbox, Audible and Adobe are back to support The Last Dance, it’s still a far cry from the days of ‘ol when L’Oreal gifted brand new makeup to the general public, Stanley gave out Sundance branded Quenchers and cocoa, McDonald’s distributed PJs and NBC Studios handed out fuzzy socks. Even still, when you’re in between films, can’t make the waitlist or just don’t want to spend $35 for an untested film, stroll past one of these popups or parties. You just might experience some of that Sundance magic that helped create one of the world’s best film festivals.
Legacy Pop-Ups
One of the most fun experiences during Sundance are those random pedestrian popups where anyone can score a sweatshirt, beanie, photo or coffee. Some are walkups; some, just RSVP Sundance.
Little Miss Sunshine Popup Donut Cart on Swede Alley near the Transit Hub: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved 2006 Sundance film, Searchlight Pictures rolled in a mini donut and cocoa cart along with a trailer for giving away, beanies, socks, shirts and little HotWheels vans.
Across the street lumbers the giant House of Energy (550 Swede Alley) where NBC Sports hosts a “Join the Ride” Photo Booth, to pimp the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. You’ll pose with Italy-inspired scooters for themed photos. January 23-26. Also in the tent, Jan. 25/26, ASCAP presents their free “music cafe” from 2-6p.
Canon at the Park City Museum (528 Main St.), offers hands-on gear demos and light bites, Dropbox House (501 Main St.) has product experiences and premiere parties. Audible Listening Lodge (Kimball Terrace, 675 Main St. closing Jan. 25) hosts s’mores, bites and fireside chats, and Adobe has a cool scavenger hunt that leads to custom beanies, pins, gloves, scarves, and water bottles in addition to photo ops and Adobe product demos.
We’ll mention the Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience (660 Main St.) only because of its enormous footprint at the bottom of Main Street but ever since it clamped down on who can enter, it’s just not worth the hype or expense. Without a RESERVE card (sorry Preferred members, you can cancel now), it’s a no-go for the panels, bites, and music. Plus, the once-free ‘thank you’ member party for cardholders now requires a $100 ticket that was sold out instantly.
The Impact Lounge (Prospector Square, 2175 Sidewinder Dr. January 23-28) became a great addition to the Fest a few years ago with over 40 panels on impactful storytelling, sustainability, and diversity that is accessible to just about anyone who cares about film and the industry’s impact. But make sure you RSVP or know someone with a pass. Highlights include Kerry Washington on democracy, panels, and nightly parties.
The Cabin, across from the Main Street Post Office, will be hosting parties throughout the fest but without a restaurant connection, the dark downstairs space is for boozing and schmoozing. On Friday, Jan. 23, they screened a short film with Adrien Grenier and then a party for Moviemaker Magazine.
One of our favorite activations has got to be the World of Hyatt pop up on Main Street. As Sundance’s official travel sponsor, the brand knows how to pamper their guests. The lounge is open to the public but you better in get line early if you want your aura photo read or a fresh bingo card. The “Scents of Sundance” sensory experiences and “Wellbeing Mornings” with Peloton yoga and pilates classes will also take place from Jan. 23-25. Make sure you get on the list for one of the parties after dark on Friday and Saturday.
11th Hour Productions in partnership with Ferrara Media will debut the first-ever 11th Hour Lodge, an invite-only, four-day immersive experience taking place January 23–26, 2026, winding down with Monday on Main. Each day will begin with Wellness AM programming powered by Pvolve, the restorative fitness method endorsed by Jennifer Aniston, followed by the signature 11th Hour Coffee Hour. Guests will enjoy artisan coffee and fresh Pop-Up Bagels from founder Adam Goldberg, alongside custom cowboy hat design moments by Gigi Pip, offering a playful, quintessential Park City touch.
Insightful Panels and Talks
- Cinema Café (Filmmaker Lodge, 550 Main St.): Daily chats January 23-29 with guests like Ava DuVernay, Salman Rushdie, and ’90s indie icons.
- Canon Creative Studio (Park City Museum): January 23-26 panels on documentaries and cinematography, like “Spotlight on Documentaries” and Billie Jean King discussions.
- Elvis Mitchell Suite (The Cabin on Main Street): January 23-26 conversations with Ryan Coogler, Guillermo del Toro, and film casts, plus screenings like Super Troopers 25th anniversary.
Beyond Film
Sundance’s Beyond Film’s programming features chats, panels and an end-cap event that celebrates the culmination of 43 years in Park City and Utah. The free tickets for Everyone Has a Story: Four Decades of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah went instantly on Jan. 13 but there’s a solid chance people won’t show so line up by 2p to see if you can get in. The event Jan. 30 at the Marquis is a retrospective of Sundance’s run in Wasatch with a (cash) cocktail hour and a program of stories, shared memories, archive treasures, and legendary moments. See the full Beyond Film lineup here.
P.S. Not everything mentioned in this article is open to the public or on-the-spot walk-in. Check Reddit for RSVPs and invites.
