IIFA 2027: Karan, Ananya, Varun and Maniesh to host Abu Dhabi
IIFA has locked its 27th-edition hosts: Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday will lead the Abu Dhabi awards weekend on January 22-23.
The International Indian Film Academy has revealed the four names who will steer its 27th edition: Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday. The award night will be held at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 23, 2027, with the two-day IIFA Weekend beginning January 22.
The announcement gives the night a mix of experienced anchors and new energy. For Bollywood fans, the immediate talking point is Ananya Panday, who moves from performer to co-host for the first time.
A host lineup built for live energy
Karan Johar returns for his sixth time as IIFA host. In a statement, he said, “Six times as host sounds like a lot, but the excitement, the nerves and the sheer unpredictability of a live IIFA night never get old!” Maniesh Paul, another multiple-time host, pointed to the same live-audience rush: the crowd, the stars, the laughter and the controlled chaos of the night.
- Karan Johar: sixth outing as host, in a familiar role.
- Varun Dhawan: back at Yas Island, where he has performed and celebrated during previous editions.
- Ananya Panday: first IIFA hosting assignment, after making her first-ever performance on the same stage.
- Maniesh Paul: a return host who thrives on the live crowd.
Ananya’s full-circle moment
Panday told the press that her journey with IIFA began in Abu Dhabi. “My IIFA journey began in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with my very first-ever performance on that iconic stage,” she said. Returning as co-host, she added, makes the moment even more meaningful.
Varun Dhawan framed the ceremony as more than an awards night: “IIFA has grown beyond an awards night into a celebration of everything that makes Indian cinema so loved around the world.” That global pitch is part of why Abu Dhabi keeps working as a venue—Etihad Arena and Yas Island have become recurring stops on the IIFA calendar.
Beyond the individual names, the quartet gives IIFA a spread of tones: veteran showman, crowd-work specialist, film-family favourite and new-generation star. That balance has become the unstated job of a multi-host awards night—keep the room moving while giving the telecast a personality beyond the trophies.
Why Abu Dhabi keeps getting the call
IIFA has returned to Abu Dhabi for several editions, and the 27th edition continues that run. The city gives the ceremony an international stage, a venue built for live production, and an audience that turns the weekend into a travel-and-entertainment moment rather than a single indoor event.
What to watch for in January
A four-host setup spreads the load across comedy, film-family connections and new-generation appeal. With Karan and Maniesh bringing experience and Ananya bringing first-time energy, the January weekend gives audiences a reason to watch beyond the winners’ list. Expect the usual blend of performances, awards and red-carpet moments around the main ceremony.
The 27th edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards runs January 22-23, 2027, at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Source: Bollywood Hungama
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