The Sundance Institute has announced updated health and safety protocols for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, which will run from January 20 to 30.

The event was designed as a hybrid event blending in-person and online attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Omicron variant spreading in the U.S., the festival is now requiring boosters for all eligible in-person attendees.

The updated vaccination requirements call for all participants to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to attending the event, and to have also received a booster shot. Vaccination and booster verification will need to be shown on site, and attendees who have been verified will be provided with a wristband to be worn at all times.

Theaters at Sundance will operate at reduced capacity, with no eating or drinking permitted. Festival-operated, non-theater venues will have reduced capacity for public programming, and will ban food and beverages. Everyone must be fully vaccinated and masked in all venues.

Capacity will be reduced for most festival-operated private events. These will require the same prior testing protocols already in place: proof of a negative test taken within 48 hours of the event.

In addition to masks being required in all festival-operated venues, organizers strongly recommend attendees continue wearing masks indoors in public places or private shared spaces.

The Sundance Institute will offer free testing to all participants and community members at specific vaccine verification and testing hubs around the Festival site. Organizers are also encouraging all participants and audience members to get tested before arriving at the event.

The Institute is continuing to monitor levels of community transmission and local vaccination coverage, with any further policy updates to be shared in early January.