Top 20 Unique Party Themes For Adults in 2024

The older we get, and the more parties we go to, the harder it is to pick unique party themes for adults that truly fit your type of setting. We’ve all been to a Flower Power 70s bash, a cowboy shindig or, god forbid… a toga night. Looking for inspiration on the web can have you going around in circles with the same old themes.

Look no further than this blog if you’re after truly unique party themes for adults. We’ve compiled a list of 20 creative ideas you won’t have seen elsewhere, to cater to all styles and tastes. Let’s dive right in and discover some suggestions to host an epic bash your guests won’t have experienced anywhere else.

Top 20 Ideas For Unique Party Themes For Adults in 2024

Our top 20 unique party themes for adults in 2024 are:

1. Pirate Party
2. Colour Of The Rainbow
3. The Metro System
4. Swing Jazz Party
5. Initials
6. Song Titles
7. Painting Party
8. Dress As The Guest
9. 007
10. Neon Disco
11. Classic Dinner Party
12. Pyjama Party
13. Musical Artist Experience
14. Children’s Party For Adults
15. Destination Party
16. Murder Mystery
17. Circus Theme
18. Baking Masterclass
19. Pick A Card, Any Card
20. Zombie Party

1. Pirate Party

We think pirate parties for adults are due a comeback in 2024, so why not to be the first to kick off their revival? We’re talking full Captain Sparrow, complete with hooks, eyepatches, hats and bandanas. Cover your space in gold and crossbones, and when you think you’ve put on enough eyeliner, put on some more. And don’t worry – if you’re hosting your event in a professional party venue such as Canvas House, our professional, friendly security team will be standing by the door to make sure no other pirates come in and try to steal your hard-stolen loot.

2. Colour Of The Rainbow

Sometimes we want to host a themed party but can’t be bothered to put in all the tiring hours thinking how to pull it off. No one likes attending a party that seems half put-together, so a theme that’s as simple as a colour is as good as it gets for those who love to party but hate to plan. Pick your colour wisely, as it will form the dress code, influence the food and drinks menu, affect the decor, and above all – create the atmosphere. A black theme will invite more of a cocktail party feel, whereas a green colour scheme will veer more towards a nature theme. Picking a purple colour may be fun but harder to dress for, and red would certainly make a statement – but may be difficult to look at en masse for many hours in a row!

3. The Metro System

We know what you’re thinking – how am I supposed to dress as a metro line? Or make myself look like ‘Richmond’? In fact, ‘the metro system’ is one of the most unique party themes for adults that doubles up as an immediate icebreaker, as guests try to guess what stations you’ve come as. Think less about dressing exactly like your local tram or light rail stop (although you could be inspired by the stereotypes of those you traditionally find around them, such as the edgy alternatives down Brunswick Street or the city bankers round Parliament), and more as the literal words themselves. For example, become a swan with a rock for ‘Swanston Street’, or turn up with grey feet for ‘Footscray.’ You’ll have to think outside the box for this one, but if your guests are up for a creative challenge, they’ll love it.

4. Swing Jazz Party

With jazz strengthening its foothold in 2024 a comeback genre, unique party themes for adults filled with jazz, live or recorded, is always a great idea. Whether you want to hire a skiffle band, a choir of jazz singers or stick to a humongous double bass is up to you. But did you know that there are also dances specifically invented for jazz music? The lindy hop, or swing jazz dancing, was a popular style in the 40s when this genre was at its peak popularity. You could also hire an instructor to teach some simple steps, and amp up the atmosphere with some 40s themed decor. Travel back to some post-wartime glamour with this vintage toe-tapper of a theme.

5. Initials

If you’re celebrating a milestone, such as your 40th or 50th birthday, what better way to honour yourself than asking your guests to come as something that starts with the same letter as one of your initials. This is a great theme as it allows for a variety of fancy dress from the mundane to the magical… provided your initials don’t start with X Y and Z. To delve further into the theme, look for drinks and canapes to serve that start with these letters too. You may end up with an amusing mix on your menu, but it will be sure to make for a memorable night.

6. Song Titles

Dressing ‘as a song’ leaves much room for variation, as you can dress as the artwork cover, the musician’s iconic style, their look in the music video, or simply become the title of the song itself. Stuck for inspiration? Think how much fun you could have putting together a physical representation of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’, or ‘Texas Hold ‘Em.’ Bonus points if you play the songs your guests have come dressed as throughout the night, and make sure you find somewhere with a sparkling dance floor to host your night, like the one we have here at Canvas House, so you can spend the night boogying away… minus the murder (unless you’re after a murder mystery party, in which case jump to number 16 on our list).

7. Painting Party

For an event that lacks in glamour what it makes up for in fun, a painting party is a unique party theme for adults where you get to unleash your inner child and get messy. Inform your guests to wear plain white t-shirts and plain trousers they don’t mind getting ruined – or provide them if you’re feeling generous – and unleash a room full of colour. Keep things relatively classy with a ‘paint and sip’ type affair, lean into the juvenile aspect of the theme by adding paint to traditional party games like Twister and tug of war, or simply cover the walls and ceilings in blank sheets and see what happens. Amongst unique party themes, this silly setting can be a  fantastic stress reliever that will be sure to leave some hilarious memories behind.

8. Dress As The Guest

This idea is great for those planning an event for someone else, whether it’s a surprise birthday, an engagement party or anniversary. The partygoer in question doesn’t need to have a particularly unique look – although of course you’ll create an even bolder theme if they do – you just need to be able to source a wig of their hairstyle, then order one for every single guest attending. Find a picture of your partner, parent or friend in easy-to-replicate clothes that resemble their personal style, or choose a photo from their childhood or teen years if you’re planning to really embarrass them. Then, watch as they arrive to all their friends and family dressed as their clone, and watch chaos ensue as men and women, old and young alike, find it impossible to distinguish one from another the entire evening.

9. 007

Dirty martinis and fur minks abound, welcome the dangerous allure of a Bond theme party. This is sure to be a black tie event complete with glamour, jewels and of course, a little drop of impending peril hanging in the air. Bring the drama with professional cocktail makers and poker-faced croupiers. Hire a roulette wheel and take inspiration from the films for what to serve on your menu. Don’t forget those all important invitations, which should arrive via email or post as mysterious as they are enticing. And if you’re after a local private party space to transform for your 007 night… The name’s House, Canvas House.

10. Neon Disco

Take two themes – a glow in the dark party and a 70s disco theme, and mash them together. The result is a cascade of neon movements that feels somewhere between an underground rave and a Coldplay concert – playlist dependent of course. Stack your guests up with neon glow stick bracelets on arrival, cover the walls in neon wallpaper, and turn the lights right down. This unique party theme for adults is all about freedom and fun, so let your hair down and dance the night away. On your drinks menu? Anything with blue curacao, a lightning cobalt liqueur that looks like a chemical science experiment, but will bring a unique aftertaste and neon quality to your cocktails.

11. Classic Dinner Party

When was the last time you showed up to a private dinner party that wasn’t in a restaurant, where food was the main affair, and the music was quiet enough to hold real, long conversations? When we think of throwing a party we tend to picture speakers, dark rooms and plenty of ice buckets, but it can be nice to pale things back sometimes and host a more intimate scene, whether for a birthday or to celebrate a special occasion. Hire out a cosy venue you can make your own like the Nook at Canvas House, furnish it with warm cushions and soft lighting, and host a night in an elevated private dining room, where you and your guests can benefit from a professionally curated menu, whilst being able to savour some great conversations alongside your delicious meal.

12. Pyjama Party

Sometimes the thought of getting dressed up, preparing for a long night of loud music and extroverted socialising is enough to simply turn us off the idea of going. Planning a party of that scale can also be extra stressful, especially if you’re not professional party planners like us. But if you still want to get your friends together, and create a space for shared memories and chilled out entertainment, a pyjama party is a unique way to do so. Decorate your space with plenty of pillows, fairy lights and cosy blankets, and invite your guests into a calming atmosphere that feels more like a grown up sleepover.

13. Musical Artist Experience

We’ve recently witnessed the resurging popularity of artist tributes, with no clearer example than a Taylor Swift drag queen who performed in Federation Square to a crowd of 10,000. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the party budget to hire our favourite artists to perform on stage. Aside from that, getting tickets to your favourite musicians’s live shows in the first place can be expensive or down right impossible. So why not throw a makeshift concert with all your friends and family instead? For bigger artists, source local tribute performers who are able to be hired for your very own private performance. Failing that, blast your favourite tracks through the sound system and lose yourself and your guests in a party that will feel just as much like a concert as the real thing – if not better.

14. Children’s Party For Adults

Remember all those games we used to play at birthday parties as kids? Musical statues, musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey? Why did we stop those – just because we became adults? Invite some nostalgia into the room and throw a party with all the classic games, complete with party bags and face painting. This theme will be even more resonant if you’re sharing it with childhood friends or family members you really do remember playing these games with at parties as a child. Of course, there are adult twists you can add to these games – such as by having two people to a chair in musical chairs, or swapping a tail for… something else. Alternatively, just lean into the childhood innocence of the night, and swap your cocktail stand for a pic’n’mix booth.

15. Destination Party

So you want to go on holiday. The weather’s getting cooler, the work pressure’s growing, and you just want to escape from it all. Bring the holiday to you, and even better – have all your friends come along too! Whether it’s a glistening beach in Fiji with paddling pools, deckchairs and those little fiddly cocktail umbrellas, or the bustling streets of Barcelona on a warm summer night with tapas bites on offer, pick a city, an island or any other dream getaway to be the source of your inspiration. Tell your guests to ‘pack’ accordingly and whisk everyone off to a party paradise, without the airfare.

16. Murder Mystery

What could be more fun than telling one of your guests to drop dead as dramatically or mysteriously as they want to, and then spend the rest of the evening working out which of your other guests committed the heinous crime? When it comes to party themes for adults, a murder mystery is always a funny evening, as you work your way through clues to uncover the sequence of events. We’ve covered in a bit more detail how to throw an epic murder mystery affair for your next themed event, but this is one of those super versatile themes that you can pull off at nearly every type (though perhaps not a wake…). You can find pre-plotted packages available to buy online, or get super creative and interweave your own situation into the story.

17. Circus Theme

The circus is in town – and it’s heading to your very next party. Bring in the acrobats, the contortionists, the jugglers and the hula-hoopers, for a wild and wacky event that’s anything but normal. This unique party theme is sure to dazzle and delight, so long as you can find true entertainers to impress with their unique set of skills. You’ll want a tombola, a balloon-artist, and plenty of colour for your guests to feel as though they’ve stepped into a ringtop circus.

18. Baking Masterclass

Though the days of making sourdough are (thankfully) long behind us, that doesn’t mean we should toss baking out of the window altogether. Host a masterclass for you and your friends, and learn a new skill at the same time. For this, you’ll need an open kitchen space, which we can happily provide at Canvas House, and an easygoing teacher who can instruct you on the process from start to finish whilst remembering you’re still there to have fun! This party theme for adults is certainly more laid back than some of our others, but at the end of it you’ll have shared real quality time with your guests, and – all being well – have something sweet to show for it. If all else fails, bring out the icing and hundreds and thousands, and you can stick to decorating cupcakes.

19. Pick A Card, Any Card

When was the last time you saw a true magician, the bunny-pulled-out-of-a-hat type? Host a party that’s a feast for the eyes with a magician hire, and play into the theme of all things mysterious and secretive. You could lean into a creepy magician aesthetic and have your party feel a little spooky, especially perfect for a party around Halloween. Or host a family friendly event that’s as wondrous and delightful for adults as it is for children. Roving magicians will entertain your guests all evenings with their card tricks and sleight-of-hand, or pull the stops out and hire an illusionist to perform bigger performances that leave you truly speechless.

 20. Zombie Apocalypse

It’s time to host an event that is considered different amongst unique party themes, something that will have your guests quaking in their boots. Bring out the facepaint and toilet paper for this one – as you’ll be dressing up as mummies, zombies, and everything from beyond the grave in your very own apocalypse night. For a total zombified experience, make use of a green screen so you and your guests can take some truly unique photos. And if you’re looking for a space that can do just that, complete with spider webs hanging from the ceiling and broken gravestones dotted round the venue, look no further than Canvas House, your very own venue hire in Melbourne complete with expert party planners on hand to help you plan the night.

The Top 20 Unique Party Themes For Adults To Consider

So there it is, 20 unique party themes for adults in 2024. No doubt you’ll have some more inspiration after reading through these ideas on what theme to pick for your next party, be it a milestone birthday, an engagement, or just an overdue get together with friends and family. Whatever the occasion may be, it could for a new years event, a winter party theme or an easter party idea, our beautiful function venue at Canvas House can do justice to your theme, and even throw in a couple of extra suggestions, thanks to decades of experience in party planning from our friendly, expert team.

Give us a call today on 0478056390, or send us over a quick enquiry, and we’ll get started on figuring out how we can help you host the best – and most unique party themes for adults in 2024.