VIENNA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Prominent guests are arriving in the Austrian capital of Vienna ahead of Saturday's Life Ball, one of the largest European charity events for AIDS and HIV awareness.

Paula Abdul, Carmen Electra, Kelly Osbourne, and Dita von Teese were among those to arrive on Friday, and were greeted at the Vienna International Airport by Life Ball founder and organiser Gery Keszler.

Keszler said the fact that numerous celebrities attend the event each year is testament to "a build-up of trust over many years," and that "one must achieve a certain standing."

Actress Charlize Theron will attend the event as will her partner and fellow Hollywood star Sean Penn on Saturday.

The couple, who Thursday attended the premiere of the new "Mad Max" film in Cannes, are expected to arrive in Vienna on Friday.

Theron will take part in the First Ladies Luncheon at the Belvedere palace where she will deliver a keynote speech on her charity the "Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project."

Penn had previously already attended the Life Ball in 2012, the year of the event's 20th anniversary.