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The Communiqué News

IIFA 2027 Returns to Abu Dhabi: Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Star-Studded Celebration Began at The Grand Hyatt, Mumbai

Swati Bhat
4 min read

The 27th edition of IIFA will take place on January 22–23 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, featuring Bollywood performances, digital entertainment awards and its first global YouTube livestream.

IIFA 2027 Abu Dhabi announcement featuring Bollywood hosts and performers for the January awards ceremony at Yas Island.

Mumbai, October 22, 2026: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has officially set the stage for its 27th edition, announcing a return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027. The announcement, made during a press conference in Mumbai, unveiled a major lineup of Bollywood celebrities, performances and international partnerships, including a first-ever global livestream collaboration with YouTube.

With Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Nora Fatehi announced as performers, IIFA 2027 is positioning itself as a major international celebration of Indian cinema and entertainment.

Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul, Ananya Panday, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and Abhishek Banerjee to Host IIFA Awards 2027

The 27th edition of the IIFA Awards promises an exciting blend of glamour, entertainment and engaging performances, with some of Indian cinema's most celebrated personalities taking centre stage. Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday will host the main IIFA Awards ceremony, bringing together Johar's signature wit, Dhawan's infectious energy, Paul's effortless humour and Panday's youthful charm.

Adding another dimension to the celebrations, the IIFA Digital Awards 2027 will be hosted by acclaimed actors Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Abhishek Banerjee. Known for their distinctive performances across cinema and streaming platforms, the trio is expected to bring a refreshing combination of humour, spontaneity and cinematic flair to the digital awards stage. The entertainment quotient will rise further with a spectacular lineup of performances featuring Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Nora Fatehi. From Bollywood's established superstars to contemporary audience favourites, the performances are set to celebrate the diversity, energy and global appeal of Indian cinema, making IIFA 2027 in Abu Dhabi, one of the most anticipated entertainment events of the year.

IIFA 2027 Strengthens Global Partnerships with Sobha Realty, ORN, ZEE and YouTube

The 27th edition of the IIFA Weekend & Awards continues to strengthen its international presence through strategic partnerships with leading global brands. Sobha Realty extends its association with IIFA into 2027, marking four years of collaboration as the Presenting Sponsor of IIFA Weekend and IIFA Digital Awards.

Joining the celebrations, ORN comes on board as the Co-Powered By Sponsor of IIFA Weekend & Awards 2027, bringing its expertise in logistics and technology to the global entertainment platform.

Meanwhile, ZEE continues its longstanding association as IIFA's Official Broadcasting Partner, taking the celebration of Indian cinema to television audiences across more than 120 countries.

In a significant digital milestone, YouTube joins IIFA 2027 as its Official Streaming Partner, introducing the event's first-ever global livestream and the exclusive IIFA Unfiltered experience.

Together, these partnerships underline IIFA's evolving global footprint, connecting Indian cinema, international brands and millions of entertainment enthusiasts across traditional and digital platforms.

IIFA Digital Awards 2027 to Celebrate Streaming Entertainment

Recognising the expanding influence of digital storytelling, IIFA will also host its Digital Awards, with Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Abhishek Banerjee announced as presenters. The digital celebration will feature musical performances by Himesh Reshammiya and Sunidhi Chauhan, bringing two distinctive musical voices to the IIFA stage. The inclusion of a dedicated digital awards ceremony reflects the growing importance of OTT platforms, streaming productions and digital-first entertainment within the Indian screen industry.

IIFA 2027 Announces First-Ever Global YouTube Livestream

One of the most significant developments announced at the Mumbai press conference is IIFA's partnership with YouTube as its official streaming partner.

For the first time, the awards will introduce a global livestream through YouTube, expanding access to audiences beyond the physical venue and traditional television broadcasting. The initiative will also introduce IIFA Unfiltered, a digital offering intended to bring viewers closer to the event and its personalities.

Meanwhile, ZEE will continue as IIFA's broadcasting partner, extending the awards' television reach to audiences across more than 120 countries.

Sobha Realty, ORN Join IIFA 2027's Global Partnerships

IIFA and Sobha Realty have extended their presenting sponsorship association into 2027, marking four years of collaboration. The partnership will continue across IIFA Weekend and the IIFA Digital Awards.

ORN has also joined IIFA Weekend & Awards 2027 as a co-powered-by sponsor, bringing logistics and technology into the event's commercial partnership network.

These associations highlight the continuing appeal of international entertainment events as platforms connecting cinema, global brands and audiences.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Prepares for Two Days of Indian Cinema

The Etihad Arena on Yas Island will once again provide the setting for IIFA's international celebration. Over more than two decades, IIFA has established a presence beyond India, using its travelling awards format to connect Indian cinema with international audiences. Its return to Abu Dhabi further reinforces the emirate's association with large-scale Indian entertainment events and cultural celebrations. With an extensive celebrity lineup, digital broadcasting initiatives and live performances, the January 2027 edition aims to bring together traditional Bollywood glamour and the evolving digital entertainment landscape.

IIFA 2027 Tickets and Event Dates

January 22–23, 2027

Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

As the countdown begins, IIFA 2027 promises more than a conventional awards ceremony. Its combination of cinema, music, digital entertainment and international streaming marks another chapter in the event's effort to connect Indian storytelling with audiences worldwide.











Shahid Kapoor hints at Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra's marriage by year-end

Swati Bhat
2 min read

Mumbi [India], August 22: Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani are all set to embrace the coffee couch in the eighth episode of Koffee with Karan.


Swati Bhat

Taking to Instagram, Karan Johar, dropped the teaser of the upcoming episode, which he captioned, "This jodi has everyone's hearts 'preeti' melted with their on-screen presence, but on the koffee couch they were as candid as they get! #HotstarSpecials #KoffeeWithKaranS7, Episode 8 streaming this Thursday 12:00 am only on Disney+ Hotstar."

The short teaser started with Karan asking the 'Udta Punjab' actor's sexiest feature, to which he replied, " Not visible to camera right now." Moving on, the 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,' director asked Kiara about her relationship with Sidharth Malhotra, on which she said that she is more than 'just friends' with Sidharth. At the end of the teaser, the 'Jab We Met' actor gave a big hint about Sidharth and Kiara's marriage and stated, "Be ready for a Big Announcement by the end of this year and it's not a movie!!" The 'Indoo Ki Jawani' actor is apparently in a relationship with Sidharth, but the couple has still not officially confirmed their relationship.

In the upcoming episode, Kiara also mentioned Shahid as one of her closest friends. The short teaser had many glimpses from the upcoming episode where the 'Kabir Singh' couple had many funny moments with Karan. Meanwhile, Kiara will be next seen in an upcoming comedy film 'Govinda Mera Naam' alongside Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar. Produced by Dharma Productions, the official release date of the film is still awaited.

Shahid, on the other hand, will be next seen in an upcoming action thriller film 'Bloody Daddy', which is an official Hindi remake of the French film 'Nuit Blanche'. He will be also making his grand OTT debut with Amazon Prime Video's upcoming series 'Farzi'. Helmed by Raj & DK, the series also casts south actor Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role.


NEXA IIFA Awards 2022: A List of all the Winners

The Communiqué
1 min read

IIFA is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the Bollywood film industry. Every award season, the best of the talents are honored for their outstanding work throughout the year. This year's IIFA was also graced by fantastic artists who are recognised for their outstanding performances. While Vicky Kaushal won best actor for Sardar Udham, Kriti Sanon won best actress for her portrayal in Mimi. Here's a quick rundown of the NEXA IIFA Awards 2022 winners:


Swati Bhat

Vishnu Varadhan gets the IIFA Award for Direction for a masterpiece movie: Shershaah

Shershaah wins the IIFA Award for Best Picture and is truly a deserved one!



‘Mimi’ movie star Kriti Sanon was awarded with the Performance in a Leading Role Female at the NEXA IIFA Awards 2022



Vicky Kaushal wins the IIFA Award for Performance in a Leading Role Male for his exceptional portrayal of the character Sardar Udham.



Sai Tamhankar took home the IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role Female for the movie Mimi.



And the award for Best Story Adapted goes to 83! Congratulations to the cast and crew of 83 movie! A winning moment for Pankaj Tripathi, who won the NEXA IIFA Award 2022 for Best Performance in a Supporting Role Male for Ludo.



The very talented Anurag Basu receives the IIFA Award for Best Story Original for 'Ludo' at the NEXA IIFA Awards 2022.


All Pic Courtesy: IIFA Official



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