30 Best Party Themes for Any Occasion

Mar 15, 2024

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No matter what the event is, these themes will be a hit!

When a special occasion is right around the corner and you need to come up with a fun party theme, you might suddenly feel less than creative. This can especially be the case if you’re someone who plans a lot of parties and is feeling pretty burned out. Or maybe you throw the same party for one of your kiddos year after year, and they’d like to mix things up a bit. No matter what your party-planning dilemma is, we’ve got you covered with 30 party themes that promise to charm guests and the guest of honor alike. Whether you're looking for birthday, wedding shower, housewarming, or graduation party ideas, there's a theme here for every occasion. Plus, you'll find themes that work for any time of year, including summer party ideas, fall party ideas, and more!

We’ve got plenty of options for little ones celebrating a birthday, including space, fairy, or rainbow motifs. Others work well for both kids and kids at heart, like a watermelon theme or one that’s filled with playful polka dots. Then there are themes that’ll work well for events like showers and housewarmings, like floral motifs or a nautical approach. As it turns out, a single theme can work for a wide variety of events. With our list of 30 ideas, you’ll be able to plan out parties for an entire year and then some!

Sandcastles, seashell-shaped plates, and netting used as table décor? Sounds like the makings of a picture-perfect mermaid-themed party to us—and one that will certainly appeal to littles!

See more at A Beautiful Mess.

SHOP MERMAID PLATES

The nice thing about a rainbow-themed shindig is that it works for so many different celebrations. For kiddos’ birthdays, it’s a home run. It would also make for an adorable baby shower. You can even include rainbow-themed items at the most colorful tea party around.

If you want to aim really high when it comes to your next party, consider a fun space theme. This theme is ideal for the kid in your family who can’t get enough of their telescope and astronomy books. Or you could even plan a “shoot for the stars” theme for a graduation party.

See more at Scratch and Stitch.

Time to break out the fairy wings! Perfect for birthdays, a fairy-themed party needs plenty of wings to pass around, face-painting, and sparkling cupcakes.

You’re pretty much golden if you go with a unicorn-themed event of any kind. From birthdays to lighthearted cocktail parties that could use a touch of magic here and there, unicorn cups, confetti, and even a piñata are sure to delight.

SHOP UNICORN PIÑATAS

Complete with anchors, stripes, and blue and white décor, a nautical theme is a fun and fresh way to approach lots of different parties, like birthdays, graduation parties, retirement soirées, and, of course, boat christenings.

Whether you remember the '90s well or were born way after the '90s and just love everything about the decade, this party guarantees a good time. Watch TV shows from the era, have a '90s dance party, and send blinged-out invitations.

From birthdays to graduations to showers, you can’t ever go wrong with pink as a theme, down to the confetti, sweet treats, tablecloths, and balloons.

Even if it’s not Easter, you can have a bunny-themed party anytime. Bunnies galore will be an adorable touch to a little one’s party. Think: a bunny piñata, bunny ears, and a bunny-shaped cake, too.

See more at Lovely Indeed.

How’s this for a simple and pretty theme? Have a party in the backyard or in a local park and make it all about nature. Flower crowns, outdoorsy crafts, and a cake covered in edible flowers all work for this party.

SHOP FLOWER CROWNS

Calling all doughnut fans! Whether you serve fancy doughnuts at a bridal shower or bake teeny-tiny ones for a baby’s birthday party, every guest is sure to love this theme.

See more at Get Kamfortable.

For a color that makes everything look extra special, gold is the way to go. It can glam up birthdays, dinner parties, graduation extravaganzas, and Oscar watch parties.

If the guest of honor knows the difference between a stegosaurus and a brontosaurus, we’re thinking a dinosaur theme is just right. Set out dinosaur figurines (wearing mini party hats!), make a cake with a dino on it, and decorate with faux jungle plants to set the scene.

Oui oui! For a party that’s sure to inspire beret-wearing and croissant-eating, look to a French “patisserie” theme. You’ll need a photo backdrop that'll make guests feel like they're living it up at a Parisian bakery, along with a spread filled with desserts. All your guests will be saying, “Merci beaucoup!”

For a summertime party theme or one that looks cute no matter what season it is, plan a party around watermelons. Make watermelon-flavored sips and sweets, have guests take home watermelon favors, and use pink, green, and white everywhere.

See more at Haute & Healthy Living.

SHOP WATERMELON CANDY

If your child, friend, or family member prefers gliding through life on two wheels, go with a bicycle theme. A bicycle adorned with balloons can greet guests at the door, and after enjoying decorations and treats with bikes on them, you could all head out for a little ride together.

Totally rad! For birthdays or movie nights, an '80s theme entails lots of neon colors, bowls of candy from the era, and a photo backdrop that Madonna would have been proud to pose in front of.

See more at A Kailo Chic Life.

For kids who are miniature superheroes or for someone in your life who you think of as a hero (your friend who just completed chemo treatments, your pal celebrating a well-earned job promotion), a superhero party theme fits the bill. Fun masks, primary colors, and superhero movies are a must.

Want to plan a party that feels footloose and fancy-free? Then take a pinwheel theme for a spin! They can embellish gifts, table centerpieces, and buffet tables, inspiring a happy-go-lucky mood among all your guests.

Even if it’s not summer, a summer-themed soirée is still an amazing choice. Suns and sky-blue everything make cheerful visuals for birthdays or going-away parties.

See more at Club Crafted.

SHOP YELLOW TABLE CLOTHS

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