Whether you’re planning a birthday party, corporate event, prom, or other special celebration, it’s best to start with a theme. It will make it easier to organize everything from decor to entertainment. If you’re not sure what to choose, we have a list of party theme ideas for every style and interest.
Keep it classic
There’s a reason some party themes are classics. People often choose these themes because they are familiar, easy to pull off, and a guaranteed hit with guests.
🎭 Masquerade Ball
Dating back to the 15th century, masquerade balls are one of the oldest party traditions. Invite your guests to wear their finest formal wear and buy lavish masks for an unforgettable night of music and dancing. Choose rich colors for your decor and serve fancy hors d’oeuvres. This theme is perfect for events like charity galas and proms.
🎻 Entertainment idea: Hire a string quartet to get everyone spinning around the dance floor.
❄️ Winter Wonderland
Whether you’re planning a party for the holidays or a magical winter wedding, embrace the chilliest season with a beautiful winter wonderland theme. Cover your party space in white decor, fake snow, and other wintery items. If you want to add some pops of color, go with light blue or rose gold. For your menu, serve a mix of icy treats and warm beverages.
🎵 Entertainment ideas: Create a unique soundtrack with a cappella singers or Christmas carolers.
🌈 Color Party
Keep the dress code and decor simple by planning your party theme around color. Single colors are great for quinceañeras and baby showers, or you can plan a color party using the full rainbow. For bigger events, there are several color pairings that work great as their own party theme. You could do a “Black and White” or “Fire and Ice” motif.
🎧 Entertainment idea: Regardless of the type of party, you can’t go wrong when you book a DJ.
☕ Tea Party
If you’re planning a sophisticated dinner party or a classy bridal shower, perhaps a tea party is the perfect theme. Focus on your tablescapes when decorating with lovely place settings and beautiful centerpieces. Take this party idea a step further by making it a Bridgerton theme complete with Lady Whistledown-inspired invitations!
💐 Entertainment ideas: Hire a violinist or cellist to create a relaxing and classy environment.
Be a little whimsical
Choose a party theme that transports guests to an enchanting fantasy world. Use elaborate decor and on-theme activities and entertainment to create the perfect whimsical atmosphere.
🔮 Arabian Nights
Fill your party or event with the magic and allure of a beautiful Arabian night. When decorating, use vibrant silk fabrics, intricate lanterns casting warm hues, and lush floor cushions to create a mystical desert oasis. Be sure to prepare a menu of exotic flavors and add music and dancing for a truly memorable experience.
💃 Entertainment idea: Hire a belly dancer to put on a mesmerizing performance for your guests.
🎪 Vintage Circus
Invite guests to step right up with a fun circus theme. Create your own big top with red and white drapes across the ceiling. Then use classic marquee signs throughout your event space for a vintage feel. Set up charming carnival games and serve timeless treats like popcorn and cotton candy. If you’re a big fan of The Greatest Showman, like us, this is the perfect party theme idea for you.
🤸♀️ Entertainment ideas: Live performers like aerialists and other circus acts are a must-have!
⚔️ Renaissance Fair
Harken back to the Renaissance era with a grand fair-themed event. Create a resplendent environment with rich tapestries, wooden booths adorned with trinkets, and banners fluttering in the breeze. Serve up hearty foods like jumbo turkey legs with tasty mugs of mead. Encourage your guests to dress in themed garb and add some strolling medieval entertainment to pull this party theme together.
🤹♀️ Entertainment ideas: Performers like stilt walkers and jugglers know how to entertain a fair crowd.
✨ Alice in Wonderland
No theme is quite as whimsical as Alice in Wonderland. Decorate with mismatched tableware, oversized teacups, and giant playing cards so your guests feel like they’ve tumbled down the rabbit hole. Make sure everything is curiouser and curiouser with eccentric treats, Drink Me potions, and quirky games. An Alice theme works for everything from simple tea parties and book-themed birthdays to extravagant celebrations.
🎩 Entertainment idea: Hire a magician to dress like the Mad Hatter for a magical performance.
Get into character
Many of the party theme ideas shared here invite attendees to dress for the occasion. But a true costume party puts guests front and center. Use themed decor to enhance their amazing creations.
💑 Famous Couples
With a theme centered all around love, this party idea is especially fitting for engagement parties and anniversary celebrations. From silly cartoon characters to historical couples to famous film duos, the costume options are endless. Play into the love theme with red and pink decor, intimate low lighting, and romantic music.
🎹 Entertainment ideas: Allow a talented singing guitarist or pianist to create a setlist of popular love songs.
☠ Pirate Party
Say ahoy when your mateys show up in their finest buccaneer attire, complete with eye patches, tricorn hats, and flowing sashes. Set the scene with fish nets, billowing sails, and overflowing treasure chests throughout your party space. Of course, no pirate party would be complete without a feast fit for a crew of scallywags and bottles of rum.
🕵️♂️ Entertainment ideas: Plan a scavenger hunt or pirate-themed murder mystery for an immersive event.
👻 Spooky Spooky
This theme isn’t just for Halloween parties. Get spooky all year long! Choose a specific movie like Hocus Pocus, go with a genre like zombies or vampires, or have every guest just come as their favorite ghostly character. Keep your decor simple with dark colors, blood splatters, and cobwebs with fake creepy crawlies in them.
🎨 Entertainment idea: Book a face painter to help your guests complete their terrifying transformations.
✨ Pop Culture
Celebrate your favorite things, whether it’s a movie, book series, or TV show, by hosting a pop culture-themed event. Theme the party around one fandom like Star Wars or Harry Potter, or treat it like Comic Con and make it a fan free-for-all. Or, choose a recent pop culture phenomenon that everyone is talking about — right now, that’s Barbie!
🎞 Entertainment idea: Turn your shindig into an epic watch party with a giant movie screen.
Go back in time
Everyone loves getting a little nostalgic, making decade-themed events a popular choice for all types of celebrations. These are especially great for birthday party themes!
🍸 Roaring 20s
Go back to the era of indulgence and exuberance with a Roaring 20s or Great Gatsby party theme. Fill your venue with black and gold party decorations for a dazzling atmosphere. Have guests arrive in flapper dresses and dapper suits ready to sip on prohibition-era cocktails and dance the Charleston. Or, for a more low-key event, embrace the chill vibes of an old-fashioned speakeasy.
🎷 Entertainment idea: Since this is the Jazz Age, hiring a jazz band is a must for your 20s party.
🧦 Sock Hop
Host your own 50s-style sock hop with this blast-from-the-past party theme idea. Turn your party into a diner-style dance hall with checkerboard floors, neon accents, and vintage record decorations. Set up a buffet of soda fountain treats while classic hits play from a jukebox. Everyone can channel their inner Grease with poodle skirts and leather jackets as they hit the floor to jive and twist.
🎙 Entertainment idea: For an authentic 50s party, book a live show from an Elvis impersonator.
🕺 Disco Night
Journey back to the era of disco inferno with this groovy party theme. Illuminate your dance floor with funky colors, shimmering lights, and mirrored disco balls. Your dancing queens and disco kings should show up in their best 70s duds with colorful bell bottoms and glittering shirts. Play all the iconic tunes of the era so everyone can bust a move and let the disco fever take over.
✌ Entertainment idea: Skip the DJ and book a disco band for a live and technicolor performance.
😎 Retro Pop
If you’re looking for a millennial birthday party theme, go retro with an 80s or 90s party. Decorate with neon colors, cassette tapes, and pop culture references. Guests can rock their favorite fashion looks from their younger years, from leg warmers to scrunchies to flannel shirts. And there’s no shortage of rad music with classic rock, boy bands, and hip-hop jams!
📻 Entertainment idea: Hire a cover band to play all your favorite 80s and 90s hits.
Take a trip
Everyone loves to travel, so choosing a far-off locale can be a fun and exciting party theme idea. Take your guests on the vacation of their dreams without leaving the venue! These would be great wedding themes for couples who want a destination wedding but need to stay local.
🎰 Viva Las Vegas
Add some high-stakes excitement to your event with a Vegas party theme. Transform your space into a casino floor with red, black, white, and gold decor. Use giant poker chips and playing cards as accents. Hire waitstaff to serve fancy cocktails and bite-size appetizers as guests try their luck at the poker or slot machines. This party idea is great for corporate events, fundraisers, and bachelor parties!
🎲 Entertainment idea: Casino rentals like blackjack tables and roulette wheels are a must for a Vegas party.
🤵 Old Hollywood
Add glitz and glamour to your soirée with an old Hollywood theme. Your guests can wear fancy dresses and snazzy suits as they walk the red carpet. Black-and-white decor, vintage movie posters, and cascading pearls create an atmosphere that exudes elegance. For high school reunions or company parties, hand out fun awards to add an Oscars twist.
🕶 Entertainment idea: Hire celebrity impersonators to walk the red carpet and pose for photos.
💋 A Night in Paris
Allow your guests to experience the allure of the City of Lights with a Paris party theme. For an elegant event, serve exquisite French cuisine and fine wines at romantic cafe-style table settings with Eiffel Tower centerpieces. For something like a bachelorette party, take the party to the Moulin Rouge with deep red decor and risqué performances.
👯♂️ Entertainment ideas: Hire a harpist for a charming atmosphere or burlesque dancers for a night of revelry.
🏝 Tropical Island
Whisk your guests away to a tropical paradise. Throw an authentic Hawaiian luau, or just go for general island vibes with fake palm trees, vibrant flowers, and tiki torches. Invite guests to don their best beach attire as they enjoy tropical cocktails and indulge in exotic fruits while relaxing on their faux island getaway. Tropical parties can be great for everything from engagement parties to family reunions.
🍹 Entertainment ideas: Create a relaxing sound for your oasis with live island music or a steel drum band.
You can alter these party themes to fit any type of event, from adult gatherings to kids parties. Tone them down for a low-key cocktail hour or turn them up for an epic birthday bash. Whatever you choose, we’re sure your celebration will be unforgettable! 🎉
Looking for entertainment to go with your party theme? Find cover bands, DJs, magicians, and more on GigSalad.
Heather is the Content Manager and a GigSalad veteran of 15+ years. She loves helping event planners create unforgettable celebrations and talent make a living doing what they love. When not at work, she enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, bingeing TV shows, playing board games, and spending time with friends.