250 Unique Party Themes For Adults: Ultimate List For 2024

This list of party themes for adults will help you plan the most epic celebration ever! It can sometimes be difficult to plan a party as an adult. There are so many factors to consider, from the location to the time of day, to the theme.

This list will help you find some awesome adult party theme ideas for your next party.

Why should kids get all the fun? This list of adult party themes will help you plan a memorable celebration with friends and family!

You may think themed parties are mostly for kids or that a theme party means fancy dress and elaborate decorations but that doesn’t have to be the case at all.

Creative And Fun Adult Party Themes

I love themed parties. In fact, I never plan a party without a theme!

Choosing a theme for a birthday party or celebration can be as simple as having a colour scheme or a type of food as the central focus.

A theme party doesn’t need to mean a costume party. It can be a fancy dinner party or a unique experience.

The best thing about adult theme parties is that they make your party planning so much easier. From invitations to decorations, entertainment, food and party games – choosing all of these things is easier with a theme!

A theme party is also a great way of adding some of your unique personality to your celebration, such as focusing it around a favourite genre of music or film, or a particular decade of fashion and style.

It’s a great way of planning a memorable event that is sure to get guests thinking about how they can make the theme work for them.

Check out these delicious lunch party food ideas and recipes for your next daytime event or these party appetisers! And if you need ‘bring a plate’ party food ideas? Find more than 70 share plates and pot luck ideas for your next event!

The Ultimate List Of Party Themes For Adults

This is the ultimate list of party themes for adults, with 250 different ideas for you to consider for your celebration. These things include dress up parties, food-themed parties and simple birthday themes for adults around colours, music, style and entertainment.

1. Black and white
2. Red, blue and white
3. Harry Potter
4. Lord of the Rings
5. Game of Thrones
6. Marvel – I had a Marvel-themed dress-up party for my 40th birthday party celebration and it was the best fun ever! Epic costumes, themed food and pretty much the party of my dreams!
7. Superheroes
8. Football
9. Basketball / NBA party
10. 1920s
11. 1930s
12. 1940s
13. 1950s
14. 1960s
15. 1970s
16. 1980s
17. 1990s
18. 2000s
19. Dress for the decade you were born
20. Medieval
21. Ballgowns and black tie
22. Day spa pamper party – Invite all of your friends over for an evening pampering session. Start off by getting everyone a drink and set out some snacks. Set up pamper stations around your home for different things, such as pedicures, foot spas and manicures or hire a professional team to give mini massages and facials to your guests.
23. Makeover
24. Rockstar
25. Punk
26. Goth
27. Neon
28. Pimps and hoes – We did this theme for my hubby turning 30. It was hilarious and a great one if you’ve got friends with a good sense of humour.
29. Horror theme or Halloween
30. Video games
31. Things starting with a certain letter
32. Mexican fiesta – A great theme for warmer days when your group is looking to have a little fun outside with their favourite Mexican food and drinks! Don’t forget the sombreros and Tequila.
33. Masquerade ball
34. Spring
35. Summer
36. Winter
37. Autumn/fall
38. Pyjama party – Dress in your pyjamas for this event and don’t forget your slippers and dressing gown during winter.
39. Slumber party
40. Onesie
41. Taco bar
42. Beach party
43. Pool party
44. Red carpet
45. Hollywood
46. Las Vegas
47. Dress as your favourite celebrity
48. Memory lane – Set up photo displays of the guest of honour and possibly even have a slideshow running during the party. Hire or create your own DIY photo booth to create new memories.
49. Pirate party
50. Disney
51. Fairytale
52. Cowboy
53. Murder mystery
54. Escape room party
55. Great Gatsby
56. Rainbow party
57. White party -Everyone wears nothing but white from head to toe. Clothing and accessories, with simple white decor for a classy and classic party theme that suits most occassions.
58. Black party
59. Pink party
60. James Bond
61. Mardi Gras
62. Crossdressing/drag party
63. Wild west
64. Super Bowl
65. Geeks
66. Casino night – There are many different things you can do at this type of party from having a blackjack table to poker games. There are party hire businesses that will come to you and set up a casino night at your venue. Don’t forget to dress the part of a high roller!
67. Boardgame night – Invite your family or friends over to play some old classics like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit! You can also host a themed night with the newest, hottest board games.
68. Poker party
69. Adult prom
70. Scavenger hunt
71. Travel themed
72. Stars on screen
73. Country music
74. Rap/hip-hop
75. Heavy metal
76. Popstar – Channel your inner popstar vibes with each guest dressing as a specific or generic pop star. The playlist is nothing but pop and plenty of bright colours to decorate the venue.
77. Movie marathon
78. Camping party
79. Pyrotechnic show
80. Live concert/DJs
81. Athleisure wear
82. Stay-cation
83. Death to my youth party – A funeral-style party celebrating the end of your youth years, with DIY tombstones, a RIP cake and other novelty decorations to poke fun at your milestone age. Popular for 30th birthday parties, but why not push it out to 40 or 50? My sister put together an epic funeral for my 30s party for my niece!
84. Pizza
85. International food
86. Armchair travel
87. Disco
88. Speakeasy
89. Speed dating/matchmaking party
90. Truth or dare games (adult)
91. Summer camp
92. Wine tasting party – You can purchase a variety of wines and do a DIY wine tasting at home or in your backyard! Add some string lights to your outdoor area and have complimentary nibblies such as cheese platters and fresh fruits.
93. Craft beer
94. Backyard BBQ
95. Beers and barbeque
96. Cocktail party – This theme is perfect for a night of cocktails, appetisers, light fare, and mingling with friends. Dress code: cocktail attire. To add a special touch, pick a signature cocktail for the event.
97. Mocktail party
98. Milkshake bar
99. Candy theme
100. Pastel colours
101. Holographic
102. Glitter and sparkles
103. Unicorn
104. Mermaid
105. Underwater/ocean theme
106. Wear your team colours
107. James Bond
108. Carnivale
109. Dia De Muertos/Day of the Dead
110. Dessert bar
111. Mad Hatters Tea party
112. Alice in Wonderland (or make it a dark Alice In Wonderland adult party theme)
113. Ice cream bar
114. Hawaiian Luau – Hawai’ian theme party with a tropical twist, and decorating the house like an island paradise with palm trees and fresh fruit platters. The food can be served picnic-style on the ground or in coconuts rather than bowls. Include tiki torches for decorations and cocktails as part of your menu.
115. Circus
116. Toga party
117. Trashy/tacky dress-up party
118. Book theme
119. Around the world – Prepare dishes from around the world and decorate different areas of your party venue with flags, memorabilia or decorations from different parts of the world.
120. Milkshake bar – Set up a milkshake bar where people can create their own custom milkshakes using a variety of flavours, ice cream, toppings, and syrups. Guests will love this idea since it’s both delicious and customizable!
121. Gameshow
122. Race day
123. Cinco de Mayo
124. Patriotic party
125. French theme
126. Christmas in July
127. Literary characters
128. Chinese New Year – Chinese zodiac animal themes, e.g., dragon, horse, decorations and food to create the vibe of having your own Chinese New Year celebration at home.
129. Red, white, and pink
130. Ugly sweater
131. Naughty Santa
132. Black, gold, silver theme – like the rich holiday colours of New Year’s Eve in glamorous cities around the world.
133. Karaoke party
134. Rock-n-roll themed party
135. Dinner party – Break out your favourite recipes and your best dinner set for this dinner theme to enjoy a delicious meal in good company!
136. Brunch party
137. Pot luck party
138. Sushi train – Make your sushi night as elegant or creative as you would like! You can go all out and have everything from wasabi with soy sauce on hand, fresh raw fish, nori seaweed sheets, and hire or DIY a sushi train for the centre of your table. Or hire a chef to give your guests a sushi-making class.
139. Geisha
140. Anime
141. Pop culture
142. Comic books
143. Famous couples
144. Studio 54 party
145. Star Wars – Get your Jedi gear and lightsaber ready for an intergalactic theme that Star Wars superfans are sure to love.
146. Star Trek
147. Oscars party
148. Grammys party
149. Gangster
150. Garden party
151. Olympics
152. Salsa – Play salsa music and decorate with Spanish flair. You could even get everyone together for a salsa lesson!
153. Tropical
154. Boho
155. Bon voyage
156. Backyard picnic
157. Costumes and Cocktails
158. Favourite things party
159. Surprise party
160. Girls night in
161. Craft party
162. Painting party – Set up individual canvases and paint supplies for a creative fun event at home or at a studio. There are many venues that offer private painting parties with wine and food included as well.
163. Nightmare Before Christmas
164. Plant and sip gardening party
165. Jungle Safari
166. Gypsy
167. High tea
168. Minute To Win It
169. Glamour
170. The Amazing Race
171. Rave
172. Redneck/Hillbilly party
173. Dance party – Hire a dance floor and have the best dance tunes playing for an energetic and fun way of celebrating with close friends and family. You can request each guest tells you their favourite dance song when you send out the invites so you can put together a playlist that you know will get them all dancing!
174. Glamping
175. Downton Abbey
176. Cook-off or bake-off theme
177. Backward party
178. Wine and cheese
179. Royal
180. Nautical
181. Outer space
182. Magic show
183. Glow in the dark – Blackout your party zone and add some neon lighting, dance music and have a heap of glow sticks to hand to your guests when they arrive.
184. Baseball
185. Chocolate party
186. Rocky Horror Picture Show
187. Pop art
188. Coachella
189. Seven deadly sins
190. Paint the town red
191. Shakespeare
192. Dress up as your favourite character from a TV show or film!
193. Viva Italia
194. Hippies/Woodstock
195. Race day – Race day attire with fancy hats or fascinators for the women and suits for the them. You can host this party around an actual racing event or theme your menu around race day terms. Don’t forget the fashion parade!
196. St. Patricks Day
197. Oktoberfest
198. Barbie
199. Roller skating
200. Gaming party
201. Project Runway
202. Beach picnic – Pack a picnic basket with all the essentials: sandwiches, salads, dips, fruit salad or pita chips & hummus and assorted drinks and head to the beach with your umbrellas and picnic blankets for a day of delicious food, great company and sunshine.
203. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
204. Arabian Nights
205. Vintage garden party
206. Kid’s party games – Relive your youth by having a throwback to your favourite kid’s party games with a twist. Everything from musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel will get the adults laughing and having a blast!
207. Backyard bonfire
208. Bollywood
209. Grill and chill
210. Fondue
211. Line dancing
212. Crazy hair
213. Create your own costume – Guests are provided with DIY supplies such as streamers, balloons, paper, tape, fabric and anything else you can think of and must put together their own fabulous party costume once they arrive. This theme is even more fun if you do a costume contest for all the crazy creations your guests have come up with!
214. Love & romance
215. Dance battle
216. When I grow up dress-up party – Ask guests to dress up as the occupation or thing that they wanted to be when they were kids.
217. Rockabilly
218. Burlesque
219. Reggae
220. Science fiction
221. Social media
222. Dress as the thing you most fear
223. Ugly bridesmaid theme – This great party theme for women (or men) is perfect for bridal showers, hens nights and girls night out parties, having each guest find the ugliest second-hand bridesmaid dress they can find to wear for the night. Think lots of tulle and puffy sleeves. Finding the perfect ugly dress is the best part!
224. Historical figures
225. Zoo theme
226. Art Deco: A glamorous and elegant theme inspired by the Art Deco era, with plenty of gold and geometric shapes.
227. Mythical Creatures
228. Circus Freakshow
229. Space Cowboys: Combine elements of the Wild West and outer space for a unique and imaginative theme.
230. Classic Hollywood Monsters
231. A Night At The Museum: Transform your party space into a museum and have guests dress up as famous works of art or historical figures.
232. Cyberpunk: A futuristic, dystopian theme with neon lights, high-tech gadgets, and punk-inspired fashion.
233. Vintage Carnival
234. Steampunk
235. Music Festival
236. Film Noir: Recreate the moody and mysterious atmosphere of classic film noir with guests dressing in trench coats and fedoras.
237. Fairy Tales Gone Bad
238. Back To School
239. Haunted Mansion
240. A Night In Paris
241. Colour Explosion
242. Retro Video Games: Celebrate the golden age of video gaming by having guests dress as characters from classic video games like Pac-Man, Mario, or Zelda.
243. Enchanted Forest
244. Blacklight Party
245. Utopian vs. Dystopian: Guests can dress as characters representing either a utopian or dystopian future, creating an intriguing contrast.
246. The Office
247. Cartoon Characters
248. Retro Future: A fusion of past and future, where guests dress in retro clothing but with futuristic elements, creating a unique blend of styles.
249. High Fantasy Feast: Create a medieval fantasy world complete with knights, wizards, and mythical creatures, with a grand feast as the centrepiece. This is a perfect bookish theme for those of you who love world building and fantasy novels.
250. Film Awards Night

Choosing Party Themes For Adults

To help you plan the perfect party theme for your birthday party or event, we have put together the most extensive, mammoth list of fun party ideas!

There is sure to be plenty of inspiration for your celebration, with funny party themes for adults and teenagers alike.

These theme party ideas for adults are perfect for any kind of celebration for a grown-up – birthday parties, baby shower, graduation party, bridal shower, engagement party and anything else you can think of!

If you can celebrate it, you can theme it! And while you’re at it, make sure you check out the list of over 200 fun party themes for kids too!

Planning Your Themed Party

Once you have an idea of what type of themed party to throw, it’s time to plan!

Decide on a date, approximately how many guests will be invited, your venue, and when the invitations should go out.

Make sure your invites go out at least 3 weeks before your party to give all your guests time to prepare.

If you have an elaborate costume theme, you may even want to give them 4-6 weeks of planning time.

Make sure you have enough space at your party venue to suit the number of guests, especially if hosting at home. If your home or backyard area is small, you may need to consider local venue hire options instead.

Then it’s all your food and entertainment – whether you are cooking at home or hiring a caterer.

The type of entertainment, such as a bartender, a DJ, a band or setting up your own speaker system at home connected to your phone.

All of this should be in progress even before the invites go out, so you can have a stress free party celebration when the day arrives!

Partying with kids? Check out these tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve (or any occasion) with kids!

Conclusion: Party Theme Ideas For Adults

With such a huge list, you are sure to find an adult birthday party theme all your friends will love. Now all you need to do is plan the birthday activities for adults and prepare for so much fun!

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your next party, we hope this list of adult party themes and ideas will help. From fancy dress party themes for adults to glamourous DIY events and food fiestas that are sure to make the night memorable, there are tons of ways to turn an ordinary gathering into something truly special. Have fun picking out the perfect themes for parties and planning all the details!

I hope these unique party themes for adults help you plan an epic celebration!

Have you been to a really cool themed party before? Tell us about it in the comments.

Looking for more theme party ideas and costume ideas? Check these out:

• 133 things to Do on your birthday
• DIY Halloween costumes for adults, couples & groups
• DIY Halloween costumes for kids
• DIY Halloween costumes for families and groups
• Unique kid’s birthday party entertainment ideas
• Party bag fillers that aren’t candy
• The ultimate list of party games
• Balloon games for parties
• Lunch party food ideas
• Bring a plate party food ideas
• Fun Christmas party games
• Book character costumes