The International Indian Film Academy has announced the winners of its 26th edition, celebrating outstanding achievements across Indian cinema and digital entertainment ahead of IIFA 2027. The IIFA Awards 2026 recognise exceptional contributions in acting, filmmaking, music, storytelling and technical excellence, with Dhurandhar emerging as one of the biggest highlights of the announcement. The winners also reflect the growing importance of streaming entertainment, with films and web series receiving recognition through the IIFA Digital Awards 2026. From established industry names to promising newcomers, the announcement celebrates a diverse range of creative talent.
In the IIFA Awards 2026 Popular Categories, Dhurandhar has established itself as a standout winner, receiving recognition across direction, acting, original storytelling and music. The film's success across multiple categories highlights its impact on the cinematic landscape. Meanwhile, Homebound has also received recognition in the Best Story Adapted category, with three credited winners honoured for their contribution. International cinema has not been left out of the celebration, as Avatar Fire and Ash earned recognition in the Best International Film category, with three credited recipients. Together, these wins showcase the variety of cinematic achievements acknowledged by IIFA this year.
The Technical Categories further underline Dhurandhar's impressive performance at IIFA Awards 2026. The film has earned honours across cinematography, screenplay, dialogues, editing and sound design, demonstrating the importance of creative and technical collaboration in filmmaking. Chhaava has also made a strong impression, securing wins in sound mixing, background score and visual effects. Meanwhile, War 2 has been recognised in the choreography category for the song Aavan Jaavan. These awards celebrate the artists and technicians whose contributions play a crucial role in transforming cinematic ideas into memorable big-screen experiences.
The spotlight also shines on Bollywood's emerging talent, with Ahaan Panday and Rasha Thadani receiving major debut honours. Ahaan Panday has won Best Male Debut for his performance in Saiyaara, marking an important milestone in his acting journey. Rasha Thadani has been recognised with Best Female Debut for Azaad, celebrating her entry into Hindi cinema. The recognition of both performers highlights IIFA's commitment to acknowledging new talent alongside established names. For young actors beginning their careers, such honours can serve as encouraging milestones and bring greater attention to their future projects.
The IIFA Digital Awards 2026 have also announced winners across films and web series. In the Digital Film Categories, Baramulla leads with awards for Best Picture and Best Story Original, while Stolen has received recognition for direction and Abhishek Banerjee's leading performance. Sanya Malhotra has won for her leading performance in Mrs, while Monika Panwar has been honoured for Nishaanchi 2 and Avinash Tiwary for The Mehta Boys in the supporting performance categories. These wins reflect the increasing creative diversity of digital filmmaking and the opportunities streaming platforms offer performers and storytellers.
In the Digital Series Categories, Aryan Khan's The Baads of Bollywood has emerged as a major winner, earning Best Picture and Best Direction for Aryan Khan. The series has also secured supporting performance honours for Anya Singh and Raghav Juyal. Meanwhile, Paatal Lok Season 2 has received recognition for the leading performances of Jaideep Ahlawat and Tillotama Shome, along with four credited winners in the Best Story Original category. In other digital categories, The Roshans has won Best Docuseries or DocuFilm, while The Traitors has been recognised as Best Reality or Non Scripted programme. Ujwal Gupta has also received the Best Title Track honour for Number 1 from The Baads of Bollywood.
With Dhurandhar leading the theatrical film honours and The Baads of Bollywood making its presence felt in the digital series categories, IIFA Awards 2026 celebrates both traditional cinema and the expanding world of streaming entertainment. The recognition of films such as Chhaava, Homebound, Baramulla and Stolen, alongside emerging performers like Ahaan Panday and Rasha Thadani, reflects the range of talent contributing to Indian entertainment. As the industry looks ahead to IIFA 2027, the announcement of the 26th edition winners serves as a celebration of the creativity, performances and storytelling that continue to shape Indian cinema and digital entertainment.