Life Ball, organized by LIFE+, celebrates its 25th Anniversary on June 2, 2018 in Vienna, Austria.
Known as one of the largest and most important and influential AIDS charity events and platforms in the world, the coveted event takes place each year at the Vienna City Hall. The extravagant celebration has established itself as a festival of life attracting a diverse background of guests for a global event unlike any other. Each year, a new theme takes over Life Ball; and for the 25th Anniversary, The Sound of Music has been chosen, encapsulating Austria’s history, culture, traditions and clichés.
Life Ball was founded by Gery Keszler and Torgom Petrosian in 1993 and takes place at Vienna’s City Hall each year. Featuring performances by international superstars along with appearances by A-list celebrities, the event attracts influential guests from the worlds of fashion, entertainment, and politics. Past attendees have included Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Sir Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Naomi Campbell, Sean Penn, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Heidi Klum, Cyndi Lauper, Eva Longoria, Brooke Shields, Hilary Swank, and more.
Fashion is also front and center at Life Ball as guests are encouraged to wear imaginative costumes to add to the event’s overall atmosphere of openness and tolerance. World-renowned fashion designers annually make the trip to Vienna to showcase their collections including Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenberg, Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, John Galliano, and Givenchy, among others.
Proceeds from Life Ball go to global aid projects, in collaboration with international partner organizations that focus on issues of stigma and discrimination, while providing HIV prevention and/or treatment programs in high-risk areas and among key populations. Life Ball profits benefit AIDS Organizations around the globe such as amfAR, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Sentebale by Prince Harry and many more. The Know Your Status Campaign is also a focal point of LIFE+ year-round initiatives. The campaign’s goal is to make knowing one’s immune status as natural as knowing one’s blood type. Only those who regularly check their immune status can get timely treatment or appropriate preventive care and stop unknowingly spreading the virus to others. Through Life Ball and additional yearly activities, LIFE+ works to raise funds to help those impacted by and living with HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination.
Announcements including this year’s performers, presenters, honorees and participants are forthcoming. For additional details and ongoing updates, visit lifeplus.org.
WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2018
WHERE: Vienna City Hall – Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
