Two nights of Bollywood stars, live performances and a new global streaming experience await on Yas Island.
- YouTube will livestream the awards globally for the first time.
- IIFA returns to Etihad Arena on Yas Island, 22 and 23 January.
- Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan and Ananya Panday will host.
- Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor lead performances.
For Bollywood fans, awards season is as much about the performances, celebrity moments and group chats as it is about the trophies. In January, IIFA Awards 2027 brings that familiar excitement to Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, for two days of Indian cinema, live music and star appearances on 22 and 23 January. And this time, the audience won’t be limited to those inside the arena.
A packed arena, familiar film songs and a crowd reacting to every surprise are part of the appeal of a live Bollywood show. IIFA returns to Abu Dhabi for its fourth showcase, with Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday hosting the main awards. Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Nora Fatehi are among the announced performers. Expect plenty of star power.
For visitors planning a winter weekend around the event, Yas Island gives the awards a wider setting beyond the red carpet. A day exploring the island’s attractions, an early dinner before the show or a late-night conversation about the performances can all become part of the plan. Etihad Arena is the main event, but the occasion can fill an entire evening.
Not everyone can make the trip to Abu Dhabi, and that’s where this edition’s biggest change reaches beyond the venue. IIFA has partnered with YouTube to livestream the main awards worldwide for the first time, alongside its existing broadcast partnership with ZEE, which reaches audiences in more than 120 countries. Fans can follow the spectacle from home.
The online experience is also expected to extend beyond the ceremony itself. Plans include celebrity conversations, behind-the-scenes footage, creator collaborations and IIFA Unfiltered content, giving viewers more ways to follow the action before and after the awards. There’s more than the red carpet. The IIFA Digital Awards will add another spotlight, hosted by Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Abhishek Banerjee, with performances by Himesh Reshammiya and Sunidhi Chauhan.
The wider move towards livestreaming major entertainment events means fans can follow the same moment from different countries, then share clips and reactions online. IIFA’s YouTube partnership brings that viewing habit into its 2027 plans, connecting the live audience in Abu Dhabi with viewers watching across screens. The conversation can travel well beyond Yas Island.
For those who want to be in the room, tickets for the main IIFA Awards are now available through Etihad Arena’s official booking page. IIFA and Sobha Realty have also extended their partnership into 2027, while ORN joins as a co-powered-by sponsor. The countdown has begun.
Mark 22 and 23 January 2027 in the calendar, check the official ticket page and follow IIFA’s channels for further updates. Whether you’re heading to Yas Island for the live atmosphere or tuning in through YouTube, this edition gives Bollywood fans more than one way to be part of the celebration.
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