A day in September

Let's imagine this day for a moment. It's early afternoon on September 5, 2026, and at scalaria Beach, everyone is dressed in white: at the Pilots’ Cocktail, people are gathered whose combined flight hours exceed those of many an airline. At precisely 2 PM, all eyes turn skyward – the Flying Emotions airshow, featuring the highlight of the Flying Opera, flown by The Flying Bulls, transforms the sky above the water into a stage. Three hours later, the red carpet rolls out, black tie replaces summer white, and in the DO-X Teatro, the evening for which the aviation world has traveled to Austria begins: the presentation of the scalaria Living Legends of Aviation Europe Awards. When the award party later kicks off in Circus Circus, it's already clear: Such days only happen here. And only every two years.

‍

How the Aviation Oscars came to Lake Wolfgang

The story of this award began in Los Angeles in 2003 – exactly one hundred years after the Wright brothers' first powered flight. Jerry Lips founded the Living Legends of Aviation to celebrate the second century of aviation and honor those who shape it. The annual gala at the Beverly Hilton quickly became the most important industry gathering worldwide. That its European home turned out to be a lake in the Salzkammergut region is one of those stories unique to scalaria. Equally passionate about aviation, the event hotel on Lake Wolfgang created an aviation event with the "scalaria Airchallenge" seaplane meeting over more than a decade, making a name for itself worldwide in the aviation scene.

For Jerry Lips, it was clear that scalaria was the ideal stage for expanding into Europe. Following the 2018 rollout, the awards celebrated their European premiere at scalaria in 2019 – on July 20, exactly 50 years after the first moon landing, with John Travolta as host. In 2022, Morgan Freeman took over this role, and in 2024, the fourth edition honored eleven personalities from aviation, aerospace, and business, while the Flying Bulls, Felix Baumgartner, and two Eurofighters from the Austrian Armed Forces put on a spectacular aerial display. September 2026 now marks the fifth chapter – an anniversary for a great partnership.

‍

‍

Who is honored here

The Living Legends of Aviation is not an award for a single moment, but for a lifetime of achievement: Honorees include entrepreneurs, innovators, astronauts, and record-holders – pilots who became celebrities, and celebrities who learned to fly. Those inducted into the Hall of Fame join a circle that includes Solar Impulse pioneer Bertrand Piccard, the official "Ambassador of Aviation" John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. That it's never just about big names was beautifully demonstrated in 2022 when 19-year-old Zara Rutherford took the stage: The Belgian-British pilot had circumnavigated the world solo in her single-engine ultralight aircraft, securing two entries in the Guinness Book of Records – and received a standing ovation in the DO-X Teatro. Who will be honored in 2026? That remains a well-kept secret – and that's precisely what makes the weeks leading up to the gala so exciting.

‍

The Host

This year, the gala will once again be hosted by a man who unites both worlds of this event in one person: Morgan Freeman, Hollywood icon and late-blooming pilot, returns to Lake Wolfgang for the second time in this role after 2022. How much he appreciates this location was evident from his arrival back then, which could hardly have been more stylish: After landing in Salzburg, Freeman first boarded the legendary Flying Bulls DC-6 for a scenic flight over the region – and then landed directly in front of scalaria on Lake Wolfgang by seaplane. "Today is shaping up perfectly," he remarked upon arrival. Annabelle Mandeng will guide the evening: The German presenter and actress, known from the series “Vikings Valhalla,” who has charmingly accompanied the audience at Lake Wolfgang through the evenings for years, will this year host both the gala and the Science Lounge.

‍

The Think Tank by the Lake

As glamorous as the evening promises to be – the Living Legends of Aviation has long been more than just a gala. With the 4th edition of the Science Lounge, a platform has emerged on Lake Wolfgang where the future of the industry is discussed at the highest level. In 2026, it will focus on space travel as a driver of future technologies: exploring the tension between the innovation philosophies of NASA and SpaceX and the new European space generation around ESA, RFA, and Isar Aerospace – plus new propulsion systems for everyday flight. Here, thought leaders from technology and business exchange ideas about developments that extend far beyond the industry and will noticeably improve all our lives. Strong partners of scalaria include FACC, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Airbus, Falcon Dassault, Austrian Space Forum, Embraer, JetZero, and Next Technologies from Salzburg.

‍

„This show was amazing!“ – John Travolta, 2019

‍

Prime viewing for all

And there's more news that will particularly delight the region: The spectacular display of the Flying Emotions air show will be accessible to all aviation enthusiasts with prime viewing on September 5th, with free admission. For the Flying Bulls air show – a squadron considered among the world's best, featuring historic aircraft like the mighty B-25, the Lightning, the Corsair, the aerobatic BO-105 helicopter, the Cobra, and the Mustangs – a public viewing area will be set up along the St. Wolfgang promenade, offering views of the air show.

‍

A concluding scene

When, late on the evening of September 5th, the lights of the water stage drift across the dark lake and the echo of engines still lingers somewhere over the Salzkammergut, then, for a moment, Lake Wolfgang becomes what it is allowed to be every two years: the place where the dream of flying comes true. Where this dream makes its home. The legends land once more. And this time, the entire region can watch them.

‍

Sponsor table

For the Award Gala, exclusive table concepts and sponsor tickets are available for companies, partners, and guests – all information and inquiries at scalaria.com/living-legends-of-aviation.

‍