Ananya Panday is taking on a new job at one of Hindi cinema’s biggest international weekends. The 27th edition of the IIFA Weekend & Awards will return to Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027, and Ananya will make her hosting debut alongside Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan and Maniesh Paul.
From first performance to host
For Ananya, the moment is a full circle. She said her IIFA journey began in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, where she gave her first-ever performance on the IIFA stage. “My IIFA journey began in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with my very first-ever performance on that iconic stage,” she recalled.
She grew up watching the ceremony, she said, so being part of the celebration felt like a dream come true. Now she returns in a “completely new role as a co-host” — a change she described as especially meaningful because it happens in the same city where her IIFA story began.
Who is on stage at IIFA 2027
The official IIFA website lists Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday among the hosts for the 2027 edition. Karan Johar and Varun Dhawan are set to host the main awards ceremony.
- Hosts: Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Maniesh Paul and Ananya Panday
- Performers announced so far: Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor
- Dates: January 22–23, 2027
- Venue: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Why the Abu Dhabi return matters
IIFA is one of the Hindi film industry’s most visible international showcases, and the Abu Dhabi editions tend to mix awards-night glamour with large-scale performances. Ananya’s move from performer to host gives younger actors a more central role on the stage they once watched from the audience.
A hosting slot at an international awards night is also a high-visibility job: it keeps an actor in front of global audiences between film releases and lets fans see a different side of her personality. With the performers announced so far, the two-day weekend shapes up as a busy opening to the 2027 awards calendar. If you plan to follow the ceremony, the Etihad Arena dates are the ones to mark.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com