By: Swati Bhat
In a major step forward for India’s cultural diplomacy and creative economy, the Government of Telangana has entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend & Awards and IIFA Utsavam. Announced at the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, the collaboration firmly positions India’s youngest state as a global cultural force and a thriving centre for cinema, creativity, innovation, and talent.
At the core of this alliance lies a powerful dual global strategy: “Taking Telangana to the World at IIFA 2026” and “Bringing the World to Telangana through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028.”
As the Official Partner State for IIFA 2026, Telangana will secure extensive international visibility through IIFA’s global broadcast footprint across 120+ countries, reaching more than 2.5 billion viewers. This level of exposure is expected to enhance the State’s global positioning, attract foreign investment, stimulate tourism, and deepen its engagement with the worldwide diaspora and creative sectors.
Simultaneously, Hyderabad will host IIFA Utsavam for three consecutive years, celebrating the dynamism of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema. The annual event is set to attract thousands of visitors, cementing Telangana’s status as the cultural heart of South India and a major destination for film-driven tourism.
The multi-year hosting arrangement will further uplift the State’s hospitality, entertainment, events, retail, digital media and film-production industries, strengthening Telangana’s evolution as a global creative-economy hub.
Speaking at the announcement, Hon’ble CMO Telangana, Sri A. Revanth Reddy, highlighted the State’s ambitious vision:
“Following the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, Telangana is proud to announce a transformative partnership with IIFA, one of India’s most influential cultural institutions. Through IIFA 2026, we will take the story of Telangana to the world, and through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028, we will bring the world back to our State. Telangana rising is unstoppable. Come, join the rise.”
The partnership aligns seamlessly with Telangana’s long-term roadmap to become a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and contribute 10% to India’s GDP by 2047. Integrating IIFA into this strategy aims to deepen the State’s creative economy, strengthen the ‘Film in Telangana’ mission, support youth skill development through TASK, and build stronger cultural diplomacy globally.
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary (SPEED), noted that the initiative fits perfectly within the Tourism Policy 2025–2030, which seeks to position Telangana as India’s leading destination for culture, creativity, and global engagement.
For over 25 years, IIFA has cultivated a remarkable global legacy, hosting events in major world capitals including London, New York, Amsterdam, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Madrid. With its far-reaching international viewership, strong cultural influence and unmatched global presence, IIFA now collaborates with Telangana to script a new chapter for Indian cinema on the world stage.
Andre Timmins, Co-Founder of IIFA, welcomed the alliance as a “shared mission to build a legacy that resonates across generations,” reaffirming IIFA’s commitment to amplifying Telangana’s cultural voice and establishing Hyderabad as a global centre for creativity and innovation.
This landmark partnership represents a defining moment for Telangana, and for India, where cinema serves as the bridge, culture becomes the catalyst, and Telangana steps confidently onto the global stage with unstoppable momentum.
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