What film festivals are held in Colorado?
Colorado's major film festivals are the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend, Mountainfilm in Telluride over Memorial Day weekend, the Denver Film Festival in late October and early November, the Boulder International Film Festival in April, the Breckenridge Film Festival in September and the Telluride Horror Show in October. Starting in January 2027, the Sundance Film Festival will also be held in Boulder.
For a state best known for the outdoors, Colorado has an outsized film calendar, and one small town, Telluride, hosts three festivals of its own.
The arts calendar follows the same pattern as the music one: a few nationally known events that fill small mountain towns, and a steadier Front Range scene of theater, galleries and outdoor art fairs. This guide covers the recurring film and arts festivals worth planning around, with the most recent confirmed dates. Future dates are set by each organizer.
Telluride
The Telluride Film Festival
Founded in 1974, the Telluride Film Festival runs over Labor Day weekend in a former mining town at the end of a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains. The 2026 festival ran Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7.
The festival is famous for two traditions. The lineup is not announced until the eve of the festival, so passholders commit before they know what they will see. And there are no competition prizes; the program is curated rather than judged. Over the years it has premiered many films that went on to awards-season success, which is why studios and critics treat it as an early signal for the fall.
Practical reality: passes are limited and expensive, lodging in Telluride and Mountain Village fills far in advance, and many attendees stay in Montrose, Ridgway or Ouray. The free gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village is the best way around, and the free public screenings in Elks Park are open to anyone in town.
Mountainfilm
Mountainfilm, held in Telluride over Memorial Day weekend since 1979, is a documentary festival focused on adventure, the environment and social issues. The 48th festival ran May 21 to 25, 2026 and screened more than 120 documentaries. It also tours, bringing a selection of films to communities around the country through the year.
Telluride Horror Show
In October, Telluride turns to genre film. The Telluride Horror Show held its 17th edition October 16 to 18, 2026, with a free literary program for horror fiction readers alongside the screenings.
New in 2027
Sundance Comes To Boulder
The biggest change on the Colorado arts calendar in years: after four decades in Park City, Utah, the Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder. Organizers announced in February 2026 that the first Colorado edition will run January 21 to 31, 2027.
Screenings are planned for eleven theaters inside Boulder city limits, including the Boulder Theater, the Chautauqua Auditorium, eTown Hall, the Dairy Arts Center and three venues on the University of Colorado Boulder campus: Macky Auditorium, Muenzinger Auditorium and the Roe Green Theatre. Talks and other programming are planned for the Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library, eTown Hall, the Dairy and Old Main.
What it means for visitors: late January in Boulder will be busy and expensive, and lodging along the Front Range is likely to fill. Boulder is about 45 minutes from Denver International Airport by car or regional bus, and many visitors will stay in Denver and commute. Watch sundance.org for passes, schedules and public screening details.
Denver, Boulder and Breckenridge
The Front Range Film Festivals
Denver Film Festival
Denver Film's flagship festival is one of the larger regional festivals in the country, with feature films, documentaries and shorts screened over roughly a week and a half across late October and early November. The Sie FilmCenter on East Colfax Avenue is its home base. 2026 is the 49th edition; published listings disagree on the exact window, so check denverfilm.org.
Boulder International Film Festival
BIFF moved from its traditional early-March dates to April in 2026 and has announced April 8 to 11, 2027 for its 23rd edition. It screens features, documentaries and shorts at venues around downtown Boulder, and its 2027 sponsorship materials forecast more than 25,000 attendees.
Breckenridge Film Festival
The Breckenridge Film Festival, now known as Breck Film, held its 46th festival September 17 to 20, 2026, with nightly screenings anchored at the Riverwalk Center. The timing usually lines up with early aspen color in Summit County.
Stage and street
Theater And Art Festivals
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
One of the oldest Shakespeare festivals in the country, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival performs each summer on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. The 2026 season ran June 7 to August 2 with four productions: Twelfth Night and Shakespeare in Love outdoors at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, and Julius Caesar and the world premiere Friends/Romans/Countrymen indoors at the Roe Green Theatre. Evenings outdoors at Boulder's elevation get cool after sunset; bring a layer and a cushion.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Held over the Fourth of July weekend in Denver's Cherry Creek North neighborhood, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a juried outdoor show of artists from across the country, with live performances and food. It is free to attend. The 2026 festival ran July 3 to 5, with an accessibility hour on opening morning.
Denver Arts Week
Each November, Denver Arts Week packs gallery openings, museum programs and performances into about ten days, with many events free or discounted. It typically opens on the first Friday of November, when the city's art districts hold their regular First Friday art walks.
Common questions
Film And Arts Festival Questions
When is the Telluride Film Festival?
The Telluride Film Festival is held every Labor Day weekend. The 2026 festival ran from Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7. The lineup is traditionally kept secret until the eve of the festival.
When is Sundance in Boulder?
The first Sundance Film Festival in Boulder is scheduled for January 21 to 31, 2027, with screenings in eleven theaters in the city, including venues on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Is the Cherry Creek Arts Festival free?
Yes. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is free to attend. It is held over the Fourth of July weekend in Denver's Cherry Creek North neighborhood; the 2026 festival ran July 3 to 5.
Sources
- The Film Stage: Telluride Film Festival unveils 2026 lineup2026 dates and lineup
- Mountainfilm Festivalfestival information
- Mountainfilm: 2026 film roster announcement2026 program
- Telluride Horror Show2026 dates
- Axios Boulder: Sundance locks in 2027 dates and Boulder venuesdates and venues
- Sundance Instituteofficial festival information
- Breck Film Festival 20262026 dates
- Axios Boulder: BIFF sets April scheduleBIFF move to April
- CU Presents: Colorado Shakespeare Festival announces 2026 season2026 season
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival2026 dates
- Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Denver Arts Weekfestival overview