Nothing makes a party memorable quite like a theme. Not to get all "back in my day..." but back in my day, I threw a party for my best friend that was centred around two of her favourite things at the time: Kesha and sharks. People still talk about that party *years* later, so I'm convinced that a unique party theme is the perfect way to make your celebration one to remember. And it doesn't have to be super complicated. Some of these easy party themes can be thrown together in a day—and you don't have to do a lot of shopping around, since most of your costumes and party supplies can be found on Amazon. Because where would we be without Prime?
The best party themes for your next event
1. Cowboys and cowgirls party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
Embrace your inner Beyoncé and throw a cowboy/girl themed evening. Stick on the Cowboy Carter album, Dolly Parton and all your favourite country artists for a true western experience. Howdy!
2. Risky business party
Best for: House party and birthday party
The best part about this party theme inspired by the Tom Cruise movie is that everyone basically already has the costume (and also, it looks good on everyone). All you need is a white shirt, some black sunnies and long socks.
3. Baywatch party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Everyone's clicking on...
Dig out that lifeguard shirt from your sixth form leisure centre job, blow up some beach balls and you've got yourself a party theme. Maybe wait for summer for this one though.
4. Beanies and bikinis party
Best for: House party and birthday party
This party theme is...pretty much what it sounds like. Get out your fave 'kini and any beanie, and prepare to party.
5. Oktoberfest party
Best for: House party and birthday party
This is a classic party theme for a reason. I mean, there's simply no denying that everyone looks good in dirndls and lederhosen.
6. Rave party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Load up the playlist with songs from Tiësto, Avicii, and Martin Garrix for your DIY rave. With an EDM-heavy playlist and plenty of glow sticks, this is sure to be a party to remember.
7. Anything but a cup party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Wear your go-to party clothes, but come with some kind of creative vessel for your drinks throughout the night. Think an empty soap dispenser, a boot (unworn, ideally!!), a clean dog bowl...you get the idea.
8. Drop it like F. Scott party
Best for: Birthday party, anniversary celebration, family party
A Gatsby-themed party is always in style. Grab your flapper-inspired dress and feather headband and party like it's 1920.
10. Taylor Swift Eras party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
Even if you didn't get tickets to the Eras tour, you can still wear your would-be concert outfit to the Taylor Swift Eras party you're about to throw. Go for something dreamy and romantic for the Speak Now era, something snake-themed for Reputation, or a celestial dress for Midnights. Luckily, Taylor's given you plenty to work with here.
10. Après ski party
Best for: House party and birthday party
You don't have to spend the day on the slopes to throw an après ski party (though you can if that's your thing, of course). If you don't already have ski gear, you can grab goggles and a beanie on Amazon without spending too much.
11. Barbie party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
Come on, Barbie, let's go party! Will we ever get bored of the Barbiecore trend? That's a hard no. So why not embrace your inner Barbie and throw a Barbie-themed bash for all the Barbie girls.
12. Football shirts
Best for: Birthday party and family party
If you're trying to come up with a theme for a party that's happening on short notice, here's an easy one: football shirts. Most people have or can borrow them, and they're basically an instant conversation starter for guests who don't know each other.
13. Disney party
Best for: Birthday party, family party, and kids party
Don't lie, everyone has a favourite Disney character! There are sooo many possible costume choices here, from princesses to villains to animals. It's a theme that can be both cute and sexy—and isn't that what costume parties are really all about?
14. Y2K party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Channel your inner child and party like it's 1999. Sorry, that was cheesy, but this theme will be such a crowd-pleaser. Who doesn't love nostalgia? And inflatable furniture? Brb, just queuing up The Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack, because this party is what dreams are made of. (Had to!)
15. Pyjama party
Best for: Hen dos
A classique! Take it up a notch from the pyjama party days of your youth by slipping into something a lil' fahncier and sexier (if you're into that). Plus, when you get home, you can literally just fall into bed. Hell yes.
16. When I grow up party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Okay, this is actually such a cute idea! Everyone comes dressed up as whatever they wanted to be when they were a kid, like a ballerina or a firefighter. You get bonus points if it's what you actually ended up doing for a career.
17. '80s party
Best for: House party, birthday party, family party and anniversary celebration
It's literally the easiest theme up in here, so you're welcome. All you gotta do is pile on the bright colours, look to Disney+'s Rivals for some outfit inspo, throw on some Whitney Houston or Bruce Springsteen, and do your best jazzercise routine.
18. Masquerade party
Best for: House party and birthday party
Remember how thrilling the Gossip Girl masquerade ball episode was? Yeah, you deserve your own night just like that, but without all the cheating and sneaking around. Tell your guests to don their prettiest masks and gowns—we're going all out!
19. Reality TV party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
No matter who your favourite Housewife is, or if you think MAFS Australia is superior to MAFS UK, there's something for everyone here. Oh, and I dare you to ask every guest if they're "here for the right reasons" all night long.
20. Ugly Christmas jumper party
Best for: House party, family party, office party
The dress code for this winter fave is simple: Just throw on the ugliest holiday jumper you can find and give an award at the end of the night to the best (er, worst?) dressed! Look, I'm also not opposed to throwing this party in the middle of summer. You do you.
21. Mary-Kate and Ashley party
Best for: House party, family party, and hen do
Queens. Legends. Icons. The only actual #GirlBosses who matter. Have everyone dress up as characters from their favourite Mary-Kate and Ashley movie (peep those Winning London-esque bucket hats) or iconic street style outfits from their NYU days. You know the vibes.
22. Bookworm party
Best for: Birthday party, family party and kids' party
If you say you don't have a favourite book character you're lying. And this party theme allows you to embrace your inner bookworm and wear the most bookish outfit you can.
23. Klubbing with the Kardashians party
Best for: Hen do, house party and birthday party
Take inspiration from America's most famous family, and encourage your guests to dress up as their favourite member of the Kardashians or Jenners. Bonus points if you pick one of the sisters and all dress up as different eras of their lives.
24. Festival party
Best for: House party, family party, and birthday party
Ok, so you may not have got tickets to Glasto this year, but feel like you're there by throwing your own mini-fest in the garden. Warm tinnies of cider completely optional.
25. Love Island party
Best for: House party, and birthday party
If it's good enough for Margot Robbie, it's good enough for us. Take inspiration from our favourite Aussie, who threw a Love Island themed party for her 30th birthday. This obviously works best in summer when it's (hopefully) warm and invite your friends to put on their swimwear and get grafting.
26. Mamma Mia party
Best for: House party, family party, birthday party and hen do
Does anyone not like the music of ABBA? Well if they don't they're not invited to this party. It's a super easy theme to get involved with, stick on the full Mamma Mia soundtracks (both films 1 and 2) and get your flares out, you'll be dancing to dawn.
27. Charli XCX party
Best for: House party and birthday party
The OG party girl, why not spend an evening dancing to Charli's music and embracing your inner BRAT? Yes the era might be dying for Charli, but we're still here to fly our bright green flags.
28. Olympics party
Best for: Birthday party, family birthday, office party, and day party
Even if it's not an Olympic year there's no reason why you can't host a championship of your own. Encourage your friends or family to dress up as their favourite Olympians and set up a number of games inspired by the Olympics that you can actually do in a garden. We're thinking egg and spoon race?
29. Dress like a Tube station party
Best for: Birthday party, family party and day party
With over 200 tube stations in London, there's plenty of inspiration for your next party, where you ask your guests to dress up as one of the tube stations. If they pick Wimbledon, they're turning up with a tennis racket obsvs, or if it's King's Cross, then expect to see them in a crown.
30. Wig party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
You're in for a hilarious night if you ask all your party goers to wear a wig of their choosing. Maybe even add a competition in for the best wig?
31. Bridgerton party
Best for: House party and birthday party
While we wait for season four, why not dress the part and invite all your esteemed guests for a soiree even Lady Whistledown couldn't resist attending.
32. Challengers
Best for: House party and birthday party
An ideal party theme to pick as we head into summer, so why not invite all your friends round and ask them to wear their best tennis whites inspired by the 2024 movie starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist.
33. Black tie
Best for: House party, birthday party, and anniversary celebration
There's so few times in life when you can really dress up fancy, so we suggest throwing the ultimate fancy celebration and ask everyone to attend your venue in black tie.
34. Angels and devils
Best for: House party and birthday party
It's a classic theme that you can never go wrong with and honestly you really don't need to wait until Halloween to throw this party.
35. F1 Party
Best for: Family party, day party
This party has to be held on a Sunday with a Grand Prix in action. Gather your friends and family, and ask them to dress up as their favourite driver while you gather around to watch the race. Make car themed snacks and of course decorate with all the car-related decorations.
36. Shrek party
Best for: House party, and birthday party
Name a more iconic film than Shrek? I'll wait. But seriously, can you imagine how fun it would be having all your friends dress up as characters from the movie and a see of green greeting you at the door? Unreal.
37. Pitbull party
Best for: House party, birthday party and hen do
2025 has belonged to one man and one man only - Pitbull. If you couldn't go to one of his concerts then still have the Pitbull experience at home by putting on a bald cap and listening to a megamix of Pitbull songs.
38. A tini bit older
Best for: Birthday party
If you're in denial about turning older, but still want to celebrate your birthday, why not throw a 'tini bit older' party which is all about the martinis. Pick your favourite martinis to serve to guests, and party the night away while forgetting about turning another year older.
39. British icons
Best for: Birthday party, house party, family party, day party and anniversary celebration
Not that we're biased or anything but the UK has produced some pretty iconic figures over the years and a party with David Attenborough, Nessa and Percy Pig in attendance seems like a party we'd want to be at.
40. Space themed
Best for: Birthday party, house party and family party
It's an oldie but a goodie of a party theme. Encourage guests to dress up as astronauts, aliens, planets and stars for a truly intergalactic evening.
41. Saltburn themed party
Best for: Birthday party and house party
If there's one thing the characters in Saltburn knew how to do well it was party. Throw a Saltburn inspired party with elaborate costumes, iconic 2000s tunes, but maybe leave the bathwater out of it.
42. Circus party
Best for: Birthday party, house party
It's time to run away and join the circus (well at least for one night!). Dress as a magician, ring leader, acrobat and have a truly chatoic evening. Bonus points if any of your guests can actually do magic tricks.
43. Princess party
Best for: Birthday party, house party, family party, kids party
From actual real life princesses aka Princess Diana, to our favourite fictional ones (hi Mia Thermopolis), give everyone one night to embrace thier inner Princess and don their best tiaras.
44. Garden party
Best for: Birthday party, family party, day party, anniversary party
If the weather holds up a cute garden party is one of the easiest and cheapest parties to throw for your friends and family. Get some bunting, cute candles and a selection of Pimms and spritzes and you can easily throw together a party that's worth of celebration.
45. Camping party
Best for: Birthday party, family party, day party and kids party
Or if you want to take things one step further and really celebrate being outdoors, then go for a camping theme party complete with cute tents, smores and campfires. If stuck for inspiration stick on The Parent Trap and all the camping vibes will come flooding in.
Sarah is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan where she covers food, home, health, career...basically all the things you love to love — follow her on Instagram.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
