amfAR, the AIDS research foundation formed in 1985, held its first London gala at The Chancery Rosewood in 2025, honouring Tracey Emin and raising $2.1 million.
amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, held its first London gala at The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair on Friday 17 October 2025. The newly opened hotel on Grosvenor Square hosted it in the week of Frieze London and the London Film Festival.
Researchers and advocates formed the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985. Its backing of early studies of the protease enzyme, the following year, helped spur protease inhibitors, the drugs that transformed HIV treatment.
By the London gala it had raised nearly $950 million and awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. It is now one of the largest funders of the search for a cure.
Joely Richardson hosted and spoke about her father, the director Tony Richardson, who died of AIDS. Kyle Clifford, amfAR’s incoming chief executive, told the room that he is HIV-positive.
Dame Tracey Emin received the Award of Inspiration and Natasha Poonawalla the Philanthropic Leadership Award. At Simon de Pury’s auction, Emin’s Twilight sold for £450,000, and the evening raised $2.1 million.
Jess Glynne opened the night with “Rather Be”, and Grace Jones closed it with “La Vie en Rose” and “Slave to the Rhythm”.