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IIFA 2027 returns to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena with Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor
The two-day awards event at Yas Island marks the fourth time Abu Dhabi has hosted the ceremony, with tickets on sale September 18.
The 27th International Indian Film Awards Weekend & Awards will be held at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in 2027. The venue and talent line-up were announced at the Arabian Travel Market 2026, where IIFA signed a renewed partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, the destination developer behind Yas Island. Confirmed talent includes Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan Johar, Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal. Tickets go on sale September 18, 2026, at 10 a.m. UAE time via Etihad Arena's official booking platform.
Fourth IIFA edition at Yas Island venue#
This marks the fourth time Yas Island has hosted the IIFA ceremony. The event is structured as a two-day programme combining awards, live performances and red-carpet presentations. The partnership agreement was signed by Miral Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, DCT Abu Dhabi's Director General for the Tourism Sector H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, and IIFA co-founder Andre Timmins at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai.
Partnership between IIFA, DCT Abu Dhabi and Miral#
The renewed partnership brings together IIFA, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Miral, the operator of Yas Island's entertainment assets. Etihad Arena, the venue for the 2027 edition, is part of Miral's portfolio on Yas Island. The signing took place at the Arabian Travel Market 2026, where the three parties confirmed the return of the awards ceremony to Abu Dhabi.
Ticket sales and event structure for 2027#
Tickets for IIFA Weekend & Awards 2027 will be available from September 18, 2026, at 10 a.m. UAE time through Etihad Arena's official booking platform. The event is scheduled as a two-day programme at the Yas Island venue. The 2027 edition is the 27th in the IIFA series and the fourth to be held at the Abu Dhabi location.
Confirmed talent and awards ceremony format#
The confirmed talent roster for IIFA 2027 includes Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan Johar, Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal. The ceremony combines awards presentations with live performances and red-carpet events across the two-day schedule at Etihad Arena. The venue announcement and talent confirmation were made at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai.
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- gulfnews.comGulf NewsIIFA 2027 venue, talent line-up, partnership signing at ATM 2026, ticket sale date and time
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