MADRID: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards is returning to Europe for the second time with Madrid, Spain, hosting the 2016 edition from June 23 to 26.

This is the second time IIFA, also known as ‘Bollywood Oscars’, will be traveling to Europe following the ceremony in Amsterdam in 2005.

“We are extremely excited to announce that IIFA 2016 will travel to Europe again. We had been working on Madrid for many years and as 2016 marks the 60-year friendship between India and Spain, we feel this is the right time to showcase our culture and Bollywood there,” Andre Timmins, Director, IIFA and Wizcraft, told PTI over phone from Madrid.

Timmins revealed that the other contending countries to host this year’s three-day filming extravaganza were America, Macau and Abu Dhabi.

“We zeroed in on Madrid because we feel that the place is best for our industry. We also have been welcomed by the Mayor of Madrid, who is hosting us here. It’s just the right time.”