At the storied Vanity Fair Oscar Party, as Frank DiGiacomo noted in 2013, “there is no VIP section.” That’s probably what has made the event so alluring, so enviable, and so utterly unbelievable for the past three decades and counting: It’s a single room filled with some of the world’s most notable people, a common denominator for the least-common congregation there is.
Every year, the event is attended by starstruck first-time winners, stadium-filling rock stars, models from far-flung locations like Nigeria or Puerto Rico, Hollywood dynasties, European princesses, Super Bowl ring-holders, and Olympic medalists. It’s the only place on Earth you can find Joni Mitchell having a reflective tête-à-tête with Sarah Paulson, John McEnroe photobombing Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and a victorious Will Smith rapping along to “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” on the dance floor just hours after slapping Chris Rock. The biggest names from every industry you can imagine, mixing under the same roof—for one night only.
Before the striped carpet is rolled out for our milestone 30th fête, VF invites you to relive the excitement with these photographs from Vanity Fair Oscar parties past—including outtakes from our photo booth, the Mark Seliger portrait studio, and other intimate glimpses at both Oscar winners and the company they keep.