# Ananya Panday to make her hosting debut as co-host of IIFA Awards 2027 in Abu Dhabi

Published 2026-10-12T11:28:44Z

> Ananya Panday will co-host the IIFA Awards 2027, her first time hosting, and she said it means more because her IIFA story began on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Ananya Panday will co-host the IIFA Awards 2027. It is her first time as a host.

The actress said the new role means even more because it takes her back to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where she gave her first IIFA performance. She grew up watching the awards, she said, so becoming part of the celebration felt like a dream come true. This time she wants to celebrate the biggest stars, stories and achievements of Indian cinema with audiences around the world.

Varun Dhawan said returning to Yas Island to host the awards is a huge honour. In his view, IIFA brings the whole film fraternity together in one place and then takes that celebration to the world. He added that he hopes to create a few more memorable moments on the night.

Karan Johar is also back on stage. The filmmaker joked that hosting six times sounds like a lot, but said the excitement, the nerves and the unpredictability of a live IIFA night never get old.

Reports say the 27th edition of IIFA Weekend and Awards will take place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on January 22 and 23, 2027.

## Related people
- [Varun Dhawan](https://clapnumber.com/celebrities/varun-dhawan)
- [Karan Johar](https://clapnumber.com/celebrities/karan-johar)
- [Ananya Panday](https://clapnumber.com/celebrities/ananya-panday)

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Source: https://clapnumber.com/news/ananya-panday-to-make-her-hosting-debut-as-co-host-of-iifa-awards-2027-in-abu-dhabi
Retrieved: 2026-10-12