While the Oscars is underway across town, spending a Sunday afternoon, evening, and all-nighter at the annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party has become a favorite tradition amongst the industry. With this year’s installment incorporating a performance by recent Grammy winner Lola Young, the night raised a staggering $10.6 million.
Now in its 34th edition, the fun-filled event has raised over $25 million since its inception to support HIV prevention and treatment worldwide. “The Academy Awards Viewing Party reflects why we started this Foundation 34 years ago: to honor the friends we lost and advocate for the people still vulnerable,” Elton John said.
From first arrivals at 2 p.m., guests were treated to life’s finer things—with a Petrossian caviar bump station, Bollinger champagne, Ponzu wines, and tequila flights from Don Julio. The guest list was just as top tier. Faces in attendance included Dua Lipa and Callum Turner, Donatella Versace, Tina Knowles, Shanina Shaik, Josephine Skriver, Dove Cameron, Lana Condor, Tiffany Haddish, Fran Drescher, Keke Palmer, Sharon and Jack Osbourne, Betsey Johnson, and Nicola Peltz Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham.
Memorable moments kept the long day and night feeling lively. Eric McCormack—aka Will from Will & Grace—bantered with hosts Neil Patrick Harris and his husband, David Burtka, on stage while Keke Palmer shared a relatable “girls’ moment” in the bathroom adjusting her vintage Yves Saint Laurent corset. On the dance floor, Amaya from Love Island stole the spotlight in a sparkling sequin ensemble.
Reminding attendees of the purpose of the party, David Furnish thanked the room for its continued support and highlighting the ongoing impact of their generosity. A moving montage also emphasized the progress still being made in HIV research and treatment worldwide.
The highly-anticipated auction made for a major highlight, featuring covetable items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Top bids included Chopard diamond earrings, engraved Rolex Daytona watches signed by Elton John and David Furnish, and an exclusive private dinner with Elton John performing for the lucky recipient on his piano. A standout item, a pink bodysuit worn by Dua Lipa, sold for a whopping $260,000.
As for the cherry on top, that came courtesy of double-platinum selling British artist, Lola Young, who had been hand picked by Elton John to headline the evening. The chart-topper had the entire room singing along with songs from her third studio album, d£aler, Spiders, and the smash hit Messy. “Elton, David and the Foundation are all about celebrating who you really are, and that’s exactly what my music is about,” she said. “My generation didn’t live through the height of the AIDS epidemic—but that means we have a responsibility to speak up for the millions of people still pushing to live freely, especially LGBTQ+ communities who led the way from the start.”