Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars party raises £8.3m for global HIV and LGBTQ+ health

The Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party raised $10.6 million (£8.3 million) on Sunday (15 March), strengthening global efforts in HIV prevention, treatment and mental health, with a strong focus on LGBTQ+ communities.

Hosted at West Hollywood Park in California, the high-profile charity event coincided with Oscars weekend and was co-hosted by Elton John and David Furnish, together with Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Attitude reports.

BRIT and GRAMMY Award-winning British artist Lola Young headlined the evening with a set described by organisers as “raw and unfiltered”. She performed tracks from her third studio album including “d£aler” and “SPIDERS”, alongside her breakthrough hit “Messy”, which drew audience participation.

“Elton, David and the Foundation are all about celebrating who you really are, and that’s exactly what my music is about,” Young 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.” She added that it meant “so much” to be part of a night supporting a cause that “really matters”.

Reflecting on the Foundation’s origins, Sir Elton John said: “The Academy Awards Viewing Party reflects why we started this Foundation 34 years ago – to honour the friends we lost and advocate for the people still vulnerable. In a moment full of incredible British talent, Lola stood out. She’s bold, brilliant and completely herself.”

David Furnish said the evening brought together “extraordinary talent, dear friends and a shared commitment to making a difference.”

The guest list included Dua Lipa, RuPaul, Laverne Cox, Melissa McCarthy, Kate Beckinsale, Fran Drescher, Donatella Versace and Tina Knowles, as well as Adam Lambert, Yungblud, Orville Peck, Colton Haynes, Keke Palmer and Zoe Saldaña. A newly formed After Party Benefit Committee helped extend fundraising into the late hours.

Anne Aslett, global Chief Executive Officer of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said the money raised will be directed towards expanding HIV prevention and treatment services and confronting discrimination.

“The truth is that we can end AIDS. The tools exist and we know how to reach people with prevention and treatment,” Aslett said. “What stands in the way is stigma, inequality and the dangerous decline in global funding.”

Since its establishment, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has supported more than 3,200 programmes across 108 countries, prioritising communities most affected by HIV and improving access to testing, treatment and care. Despite significant advances, the Foundation notes that someone still dies from AIDS-related causes every minute worldwide, underlining the urgency of sustained action.