The Sundance-Chase Sapphire Reserve® Partnership Delivers for Everyone: The Festival, Sponsor and Attendees

We are always on the lookout for new ways to reach and engage attendees so when we got an email promoting the partnership between the Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 22 – Feb. 1, 2026, and Chase Sapphire Reserve, we were intrigued – and want to share some takeaways.

This partnership with the annual festival which attracts some 85,000 visitors isn’t just about logos or credit card perks.  It’s about designing meaningful moments that let cardmembers live the Sundance magic and introducing Sundance to new audiences through Chase’s massive marketing platform.

A Robust Lineup of Exclusive Experiences

This year, Sapphire Reserve cardmembers get exclusive access to…

– Opening Night Experience: This fully curated experience features luxury dining at the Chase Sapphire Reserve pop-up restaurant, VIP reserved seats to a film screening and a night-cap at the Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience (see below).

– Frasca Food and Wine Pop-Up: The award-winning Frasca Hospitality Group is offering mountain-inspired takes on their signature dishes exclusively to cardmembers.

– Park City Experience: Cardmembers get two tickets to four screenings of their choice and access to dinner reservations at Sundance’s highly coveted restaurant pop-up.

– Extending Value Beyond the Festival: Those unable to attend in Park City can still access four days of online film screenings, complete with a curated at-home gift to “sweeten the experience”.

– The Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience: Cardmembers plus a guest are invited to enjoy morning film panels, complimentary bites, and premium café drinks at this Sapphire Reserve cardmember hospitality venue.

– Premier Party: An exclusive party during the opening weekend with a live DJ, premium curated cocktails and gourmet bites is hosted for cardmembers.

These activations reflect both brands’ shared values — culture, creativity, and access— while giving cardmembers/attendees a chance to engage in one-of-a-kind experiences.

New Audiences for The Festival

Sundance gains valuable exposure through Chase’s powerful marketing engine, benefiting from Chase’s huge reach and reputation for premium experiences. 

By appearing on the Sapphire Reserve Experiences website and in other targeted communications, Sundance taps into a high-value demographic predisposed to travel, dining, and premium events.

This alignment helps Sundance introduce itself to potential new audiences who may have never considered attending the festival but are drawn in by the special experiences. 

Unique Benefits for Cardmembers

For Chase, this partnership is a way to reward cardmembers with something unique which aligns with their identity as experience-seekers. 

On the Sapphire Reserve Experiences website it says, “Experience the exceptional: Chase Sapphire Reserve opens the door to once-in-a-lifetime dining moments, curated trips to top destinations and exclusive perks at top venues”. 

This partnership certainly syncs well with that brand statement.

Takeaways for Event Marketers

The Chase x Sundance partnership offers valuable inspiration for anyone who wants to design high-value partnerships. 

When sponsor and property authentically align as they do here with shared values and naturally overlapping audiences, there is so much more potential than just logo placements and impressions.

Both parties here co‑created experiences which resulted in genuine intersections between audience interests and partner values, moments that give attendees access they couldn’t get elsewhere and engagement which extended beyond the event through digital/at‑home touchpoints.

This collaboration was a win for all involved!

Posted on January 26, 2026