IIFA Awards 2027 hosts, performers and Abu Dhabi dates confirmed

The IIFA Awards 2027 will take place at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in January, with the 27th edition bringing together a confirmed line-up of hosts and performers across two dates. The IIFA Digital Awards are scheduled for 22 January, followed by the main award ceremony on 23 January.

Varun Dhawan and Pankaj Tripathi will make their debuts as hosts, while Karan Johar and returning host Maniesh Paul are also part of the line-up. Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor have been confirmed as performers.

IIFA Awards 2027 dates and venue confirmed

The International Indian Film Academy announced earlier in September that its 27th edition will be held at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in January 2027. The event will unfold over two confirmed dates, beginning with the IIFA Digital Awards on 22 January.

The main IIFA award ceremony will follow on 23 January at the Etihad Arena at Yas Island. Those dates establish the basic schedule for the 2027 edition, with the Digital Awards and the main ceremony operating as separate events across consecutive days.

IIFA is also expanding the scale of its presentation this year through a line-up that combines first-time hosts, returning presenters and major performers. The confirmed programme brings together actors and presenters across the two events without announcing any nominations or additional ceremony details.

The January dates also put Yas Island back at the centre of the IIFA programme. Maniesh Paul, who is returning as a host for the 27th edition, specifically referred to being back at Yas Island in his statement about the event.

IIFA 2027 hosts: Who is presenting each event?

Varun Dhawan and Pankaj Tripathi are both set to make their debuts as IIFA hosts. Pankaj's role has been confirmed specifically for the IIFA Digital Awards, where he will host alongside Ali Fazal on 22 January.

Karan Johar is also among the hosts announced for the 27th IIFA Awards, while Maniesh Paul will return to the stage after having hosted IIFA multiple times before. The confirmed line-up therefore mixes first-time presenters with a host who already has an established history with the event.

Pankaj described the Digital Awards assignment as a new experience in his career. In a statement reported by The Indian Express, he said: "For an actor, there are certain moments that come with a little extra nervousness and a lot of excitement, and hosting the IIFA Digital Awards for the first time is definitely one of them."

He also explained that hosting requires him to step away from the kind of work he usually does on camera. "I have spent much of my journey standing in front of the camera and telling stories through characters, so stepping onto the IIFA stage in a completely different role is both exciting and humbling," Pankaj said.

The actor added that this will be his first experience hosting an awards show, making the IIFA Digital Awards a double debut: his first time hosting at IIFA and his first time taking on an awards-show hosting role.

Role	Name	Event/date
Host	Pankaj Tripathi	IIFA Digital Awards, 22 January 2027
Host	Ali Fazal	IIFA Digital Awards, 22 January 2027
Host	Varun Dhawan	27th IIFA Awards
Host	Karan Johar	27th IIFA Awards
Host	Maniesh Paul	27th IIFA Awards
Performer	Salman Khan	27th IIFA Awards
Performer	Shahid Kapoor	27th IIFA Awards
Performer	Kareena Kapoor Khan	27th IIFA Awards
Performer	Janhvi Kapoor	27th IIFA Awards

Maniesh Paul returns to the IIFA stage

While Pankaj Tripathi will be navigating an awards show as host for the first time, Maniesh Paul returns with previous IIFA experience. His comments ahead of the 2027 edition underline the contrast between a debut hosting role and the familiarity of coming back to a stage he has presented on several times.

"Hosting IIFA has been such a special part of my journey," Maniesh said in a statement reported by The Indian Express. "I've had the privilege of being on this incredible stage multiple times, and every time IIFA comes around, that excitement and nervous energy is the same."

He also pointed to the atmosphere of the live event, describing the combination of the audience, stars, laughter and unpredictability as part of what makes hosting IIFA distinctive. His comments were specifically about his own return as host and should be read separately from Pankaj's statement about making his hosting debut.

Maniesh added that returning for the 27th edition and returning to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, felt "incredibly special". The comments position him as the experienced presence among a hosting line-up that also gives Varun and Pankaj their first turns in that role.

Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan lead performer line-up

The performance roster announced for IIFA 2027 includes Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. Their appearances give the 27th edition a separate performance line-up alongside the group of confirmed hosts.

The Indian Express reported that all four stars will perform during the show. No additional details about their individual acts were announced, but their participation establishes the entertainment component of the main IIFA programme alongside the awards presentation.

The confirmed performers also broaden the star line-up beyond the hosts already attached to the event. With Karan Johar, Maniesh Paul and Varun Dhawan among those presenting, and Salman, Shahid, Kareena and Janhvi performing, the 2027 edition has announced multiple major names well ahead of the January dates.

What is confirmed for the two-day IIFA programme

The schedule announced so far separates the Digital Awards from the main award ceremony. The Digital Awards will take place on 22 January, with Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal confirmed as hosts. The main ceremony follows on 23 January at the Etihad Arena at Yas Island.

For Pankaj, the first night will represent his first awards-show hosting experience. Varun Dhawan will also make his debut as an IIFA host, while Karan Johar and Maniesh Paul add established names to the presentation team.

The performance line-up is equally clear at this stage, with Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor all set to appear as performers. The announced plans therefore cover the key dates, venue, hosting roster and performer line-up without extending to nominations or other event logistics.

With both January dates now set, attention will next move to the two-event programme at Yas Island. The IIFA Digital Awards begin proceedings on 22 January before the 27th IIFA Awards take over the Etihad Arena on 23 January.

Frequently asked questions

When and where are the IIFA Awards 2027?

The 27th IIFA edition will take place at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in January 2027. The IIFA Digital Awards are scheduled for 22 January, while the main award ceremony will be held on 23 January at the Etihad Arena at Yas Island.

Who are the IIFA 2027 hosts?

Varun Dhawan and Pankaj Tripathi will make their debuts as IIFA hosts. Pankaj will join Ali Fazal to host the IIFA Digital Awards on 22 January. Karan Johar is also among the hosts for the 27th edition, while Maniesh Paul is returning after hosting IIFA multiple times before.

Who will perform at the IIFA Awards 2027?

The confirmed performance line-up for the 27th IIFA Awards includes Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. The four actors have been announced as performers for the event as IIFA prepares its January 2027 return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.