IIFA 2027 Sets Abu Dhabi Return with Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan and Live YouTube Global Streaming

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has announced that its 27th edition will return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, taking place on January 22 and 23, 2027, at the Etihad Arena. The upcoming two-day entertainment event marks the fourth time IIFA has selected Abu Dhabi for its flagship showcase, continuing a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and destination creator Miral.

Organizers confirmed a star-studded roster of hosts and performers for the weekend. Filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Varun Dhawan will lead the main IIFA Awards stage as hosts, while Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor are scheduled to deliver live musical and dance performances. Concurrently, the IIFA Digital Awards will feature actors Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal as hosts, marking Tripathi's debut hosting role across any awards ceremony.

In a strategic shift for the 27th annual event, IIFA has secured a partnership with YouTube to stream the main awards ceremony live worldwide. The agreement extends beyond the live broadcast window, establishing an always-on digital pipeline encompassing creator-led storytelling, behind-the-scenes access, and build-up programming designed to sustain global audience engagement before and after the event.

Gunjan Soni, Managing Director of India at YouTube, noted that the platform serves as a daily hub for borderless fan communities engaging with Indian cinema. The digital integration aims to transform the physical ceremony into an interactive global viewing experience for international audiences unable to travel to the Etihad Arena.

Sobha Realty returns as the presenting sponsor for the IIFA Weekend and co-presenting sponsor for the IIFA Awards, marking four consecutive years of collaboration with the academy. Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Ashish Parakh stated that the partnership connects the developer's brand ethos with global cultural celebrations, highlighting projects such as Sobha City Abu Dhabi through the event's expanded platform.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited will serve as the official broadcasting partner for the third consecutive year. Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer of Advertisement Revenue at Zee, emphasized that the network's extensive Hindi movie library and multi-platform broadcast ecosystem will deliver immersive coverage to millions of international viewers.

Leadership from Abu Dhabi's tourism sector underscored the economic and cultural impact of hosting the film celebration for a fourth time. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, described the event as proof of the emirate's longstanding relationship with India and its rising profile as a cultural hub.

Taghrid Alsaeed, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications and Events at Miral, added that Yas Island has established itself as a home for IIFA. Founders and organizers noted that ticket sales for the January 2027 weekend have opened globally through ticketing platform Platinumlist as preparations ramp up for the Etihad Arena showcase.