Salman Khan will step back onto the IIFA stage next year. The actor has confirmed he's part of IIFA 2027, set for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, tying his comeback to a relationship with the awards platform that goes back decades.

Khan made the announcement himself, not IIFA. "IIFA and I go back a long, long way," he said, adding that being called by IIFA always carries "a special feeling" because, in his telling, it isn't just an awards night but a celebration of Indian films and the audiences who've stuck around for them.

Abu Dhabi specifically seems to matter to him. He's performed at IIFA multiple times over the years, but he singled out Yas Island as a location that's grown into something more permanent for the franchise. "I have performed at IIFA across the years, but coming back to Abu Dhabi always feels different," Khan said, pointing to what he called "some very special memories" tied to the city. "Yas Island has become a beautiful home for IIFA, and the energy that the audiences bring is something you can feel the moment you step onto that stage," he added.

Beyond nostalgia, Khan confirmed his role will go past a cameo appearance. He said he's looking forward to "performing, having some fun and celebrating Indian cinema with everyone," calling the 2027 edition "another big one."

IIFA itself hasn't put out an official lineup. There's no word yet on co-performers, exact dates, or which films the ceremony will honour. For now, this is Khan's own word, given directly, rather than a press release from the awards body.

The timing drops Khan's IIFA comeback somewhere into an already packed release calendar. He's currently attached to Maatrubhumi, playing an army officer opposite Chitrangda Singh, their first film together. He's also lined up for an untitled action project with Nayanthara, directed by Vamshi Paidipally and produced by Dil Raju, one of the bigger South-Bollywood crossover bets in the pipeline right now.

Whether either of those films releases before IIFA 2027 comes around is anyone's guess. What's clear is that Khan, coming off a year spent largely on Bigg Boss duty and fielding trolls on Instagram, isn't cutting back on stage commitments. Abu Dhabi gets him back for its biggest night out again.

The rest, the actual date, the full performer list, what he opens or closes the show with, is still to be announced.