Sundance Film Festival Celebrates Final Year in Utah with Star-Studded Farewell Party

In January 2026, an NPR article focused on the end of an era for the movie world as the Sundance Film Festival was preparing to be held in Park City, Utah, for the final time. With the much-talked-about movie event moving to Boulder, Colorado next year, the annual pop-up nightclub that is built for festival goers, TAO Park City, will be movig too. Before making that transition, the nightclub threw one last epic party with a star-studded crowd in Utah.

Benson Boone’s Backflip Steals the Show at TAO Park City Final Utah Party

Benson Boone & Jon Schwartz (TAO Group Exec) at TAO Park City (Photo: Courtesy of Tao Group Hospitality)

After Robert Redford founded the Sundance Film Festival in August 1978, it called the state of Utah its home for decades. Now, the decision has been made to move to Colorado so they can take advantage of larger venues and better accessibility in the years to come.

“We envision the heart of the Festival centered in central Boulder utilizing a wide array of theaters and venues, and incorporating spaces around the Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian-only street. Nearby spaces will offer dedicated locations for our community to gather, including select spots on the nearby University of Colorado (CU) Boulder campus.”

For 25 years, celebrities who’ve made their way to Utah for the Sundance Film Festival have enjoyed the nightlife in an annual invite-only pop-up nightclub called TAO Park City. In 2026, a star-studded party was thrown to mark the festival’s farewell to the city it called home for all those years.

Held in its traditional Utah Film Studios location one last time, the following list of celebrities gathered for the pop-up nightclub’s one last hurrah on January 23 and 24, 2026.

• Amanda Hirsch

• Austin Millz

• Beau Swayze

• Benson Boone

• Bronwyn Newport (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City)

• Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians)

• Daveed Diggs

• DJ Vice

• Jessie T Usher

• Kiernan Shipka

• Maude Apatow

• Meredith Marks (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City)

• Brooks and Chloe Marks (Next Gen NYC)

• Miranda Hope (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives)

• Layla Taylor (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives)

• Nicholas Braun

• Patrick Schwarzenegger

• Whitney Rose (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City)

• Zoey Deutch

In addition to attending the event, Benson Boone also doubled as a performer. The pop star took to the stage to sing his hit song, “Beautiful Things,” complete with his trademark backflip.

The co-founder of TAO Group Hospitality, Noah Tepperberg, spoke about the future for the pop-up venue. “TAO Park City was built on the idea of doing something truly special—for the town, for our brand partners, and for the community of people who support and frequent our venues throughout the year. As we look ahead, the experience will naturally evolve—Boulder brings a different energy and culture—but what remains constant is the momentum. Each year, we continue to bring together our year-round guests and some of the biggest names to celebrate, and we’re excited to carry that spirit forward.”

This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Feb 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.