30 TRENDING 21st Birthday Party Themes in 2024

A Taylor Swift-themed party for a 21st is a great choice for a Swiftie, offering a diverse and timeless music playlist that appeals to everyone.

With vibrant decorations inspired by Swift's iconic style and guests dressing up in Swift-inspired outfits, the party promises a visually appealing and engaging atmosphere.

The theme taps into the sense of friendship and celebration associated with Taylor Swift, making it an ideal and memorable way to mark the milestone of turning 21.

Make you you check out our Taylor Swift party ideas for lots of inspiration!

A Barbie-themed party for a 21st birthday infuses nostalgia and glamour, celebrating a cultural icon adored across generations.

With the recent success of the Barbie movie, the theme adds a touch of cinematic flair to the festivities, making it a perfect choice for a fun and stylish celebration.

Check out all our fun Barbie party ideas and Barbie party activities, and help yourselves to our FREE vintage Barbie party printables, and our 'Let's Go Party' Barbie printables to decorate your party!

There are so many fun 21st birthday party themes to choose from that it can be a little overwhelming to pick the right one when celebrating such a special occasion.

Boho picnic parties are incredibly popular at the moment. There’s something very intimate about this laidback and whimsical party theme which is probably the secret to why it’s such a crowd-pleaser.

Don’t forget to lay out as many floor cushions as you can to create an informal ambiance.

Try making our boho Dreamcatcher DIY and use it to decorate your party, or even as a party favor.

If you live for style and everything fashion, a fashionista-themed 21st birthday celebration is perfect for you.

Pick your favorite fashion brand and design your party around that theme.

Whatever you choose, make sure it oozes class and sophistication!

For more inspirational fashionista themes check out our Chanel, Tiffany's, and Kate Spade-themed parties.

Hitting the dance floor is another fun way to celebrate such an important date with family and friends.
What could be more fun than dancing the night away to everyone’s favorite tracks, right?

Throw a disco-themed birthday party to remember! Either hire a DJ, or make your own playlist on a streaming service like Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora, and create plenty of room for an unforgettable night.

A champagne breakfast or brunch is undoubtedly one of my favorite 21st birthday party ideas.

It’s so much fun to be able to mix and mingle with your guests while helping yourself to delicious food and sipping on champagne.

You don’t get much better than that!

We have a bunch of recipes that are perfect for your brunch, such as this delicious cranberry walnut cake.

Teatime, anyone? Get out your finest china and treat your guests to an afternoon tea party with all the trimmings. Serve pretty little sandwiches, sweet pastries, and of course… lots of tea!

Decorate with fancy accessories such as pearl jewelry, floral arrangements, romance novels, and other charming touches.

Download our FREE tea party printables and use them to decorate your party!

For more tea party inspiration check out these fabulous Parisian party ideas.

If you are throwing your birthday party during the summer, how about making the most of the good weather and treating your guests to a fab pool party?

A pool is the best place to cool off during the summer, especially if you’ve got a cocktail in your hand!
Liven up your party with great music, bright colors, Tiki torches, and a bunch of fun inflatables, that you can use as cool photo booth props.

If, on the other hand, the weather isn’t up to it, you could always consider throwing an indoor pool party instead.

Be sure not to miss all our wonderful pool party ideas!

A glamping sleepover makes for a stellar 21st birthday theme, blending luxury with outdoor adventure.

Picture cozy tents, twinkling lights, and laughter under the stars. It's a chance to bond with friends in style, creating unforgettable memories around the campfire.

Get ready to elevate your birthday bash with a glamorous twist on the classic campout!

Take a trip down memory lane and throw an old-school retro-themed party for your 21st.

Choose a specific era, the 70s, ’80s, ’90s, or ’00s, and transport everyone back in time.

The birthday cake at all themed parties should take center stage, so create a retro showstopper by decorating with a bunch of cool items from that decade.

If you are planning a hip-hop party we have so many great ideas!

There’s something so effortless and classy about hosting an all-white-themed 21st birthday party.

Whether you decide to throw your party indoors or make it an alfresco affair, rest assured that your all-white party decorations are guaranteed to add elegance to your celebration.

yDon’t forget to let your guests know about the white theme dress code on your 21st birthday invitations.

It's a wonderful theme for a 50th birthday party too!

TikTok is a massive hit on social media and a worldwide phenomenon, so if you love spending hours glued to your phone a TikTok-themed party for a 21st is a great choice!

Make sure to decorate with our FREE TikTok party printables, sparkly backdrops, and balloons that you can use as backdrops for your videos.

Be sure to check out all our TikTok party ideas, inspirational cakes, and fun sleepover ideas.

Create a memorable evening by making your guests feel like movie stars with a Hollywood-themed 21st birthday party or even an Oscar-themed one. It’s a great theme if you love movies and wish to relive the glory of early Hollywood.

Roll out the red carpet and treat your guests to a night full of glitzy and glamour at your movie night party!!

Make sure you download our FREE movie night party printables to decorate your party.

Kick back and relax while celebrating your 21st with a spa-themed party with your close friends.

Everyone is going to love this self-indulgent party theme with manicures, facials, massages, and of course, lots of laughs!

It's also an amazing theme if you are throwing a 30th birthday too!

Another fabulous 21st birthday party theme that is full of bright colors, great food, and refreshing Mexican cocktails is a fiesta-themed party!

If you can’t resist one then how about throwing a Mexican fiesta to mark the special occasion with lots of tasty tacos and delicious margaritas?

Don't miss our mouth-watering coconut lime cupcakes, lime margarita cookies, our ultimate Mexican queso fundido, Mexican wedding cake cookies, and skinny margarita lime jello shots.

Check out all our fun and colorful Mexican-themed party ideas for a ton of inspiration!

Everyone is going to jump at the opportunity to wish you a happy birthday and share your big day with you.

Rustic floral parties are really popular and are such a beautiful party theme for a 21st birthday!

If you love flowers and would love nothing more than to decorate your party with as many of them as you can, then why not pick your favorite one and use that as the theme for your celebration?

If you are throwing your party during the fall and are crafty, you may want to have a go at this gorgeous rustic floral centerpiece.

Crack open the bubbly and celebrate this important milestone in your life with a champagne-themed 21st birthday party!

It’s a great 21st birthday party idea that all your family members and friends will enjoy.

Be sure to serve elegant party snacks and some fancy appetizers for your guests to nibble on.

Add some mystique to your birthday celebrations by throwing a sophisticated masquerade-themed party.

Who doesn’t love an excuse to get all dress up to party the night away?

Decorations really set the mood so make sure you use both chandeliers, candelabras, feathers and Venetian artisan masks to recreate your very own Venetian Ball.

Planning a party can be so thrilling, especially a themed one like a Great Gatsby party. It's such a popular adult party theme!

Inspired by F. Scot Fitzgerald’s book, a Great Gatsby-themed party is a great excuse to throw a lavish and extravagant 21st birthday celebration.

Again, make sure you let everyone know what the dress code is.

There’s something so heartwarming about having all your friends and family around you to celebrate your big day.

Like any birthday girl, you deserve a party to remember with lots of glitz and glamor, and of course lots of champagne.

Host a black-tie affair and decorate it with as much sparkle and gold as you can.

Glam parties are also a great theme for a 40th birthday party for women.

Figuring out the best theme for a birthday boy's 21st birthday can be tricky.

If he’s a massive football fan, how about throwing him a football party to remember?

Serve a bunch of tasty game-day food, (such as football whoopie pies or football cupcakes) and lots of beer, and he and his guests will be more than happy.

Better still if it's game night you couldn’t wish for a more perfect time to put up a big screen and treat your guests to an amazing experience!

We have great FREE football party printables for you to download and decorate your party with!

You don’t have to throw a huge party to have a memorable birthday.

Sometimes, the more laidback and easygoing a party is, the more you enjoy your self which is why, if the weather allows, you could throw a BBQ party for your family and friends.

There’s nothing like a delicious barbecue, refreshing drinks, and great music to make your 21st birthday one for the ages.

Check out all our awesome summer BBQ party ideas, and download our FREE red SOLO Cup BBQ party printables to decorate your party.

Another thing men love and that’s a great party theme is beer!

Throw him a beer tasting party with all his buddies with a bunch of different types of beer and some snacks.

For an unforgettable party make sure you include a bunch of fun party games too!

We have great tips on how to throw a beer and cheese-tasting party that will help you throw the best party ever!

Another cool 21st birthday theme you could go with is an Escape Room party!

Treat your guests to a fun and thrilling experience in an Escape Room, where they must discover clues to puzzles that they must solve, or tasks they must accomplish, in order to get through specific goals in a limited amount of time.

You can bet everyone will have a blast!

If you are looking for having a one of a kind experience how about going on a road trip with your best friends for your 21st?

It’s such a fun idea, so pick a place, or various hotspots you’ve all been dying to go to, create a road trip playlist, and hit the road for a trip of a lifetime!

Sing your heart out at an awesome karaoke-themed 21st birthday party.

Karaoke parties are so much fun and are such a fab way to celebrate a 21st, so grab a karaoke machine and a list of your favorite songs and have a memorable time full of music, dancing, and laughter!

Perfect for people of all ages, a karaoke-themed party encourages guests to sing, dance and entertain – all while creating amazing memories. However, throwing a karaoke house party does take some effort. We are sharing the top karaoke party ideas and tips so that you can let loose with your friends while you sing your heart out.

If your birthday is during the summer, how about transporting your family and friends to tropical shores full of palm trees with a summer-themed 21st birthday party.

Decorate your summer party with flamingos, coconuts, pineapples, and everything that reminds you of summer for some fun in the sun.

Serve lots of fresh fruit, salads, and of course, whip up some delicious cocktails, or even our summer citrus sangria!

Take a look at all our amazing summer party ideas, and decorate your party with our FREE summer party printables.

Such a special occasion deserves a special treat, so how about hiring a private chef to come around to your venue and cook up an unforgettable meal?

You could even try and get the chef from your favorite restaurant and treat your guests to a mouth-watering meal to die for.

Want a festive, tropical vibe at your 21st? Luau parties are one of the most popular on our site.

Use lots of bright colors, balloons, and flowers to bring your party to life! Here are some on-trend Luau party ideas to inspire you!

Don’t forget to set up a photo booth for fun photos!

Don't miss all our fabulous luau party ideas for extra inspiration, and make sure you download our FREE summer party printables and use them to decorate your luau!

Last, but not least, celebrate your 21st in style with an amazing casino-themed birthday party!

Get everyone together for a fun night of blackjack, poker, or roulette, and of course, lots of alcohol.

Better still, if you can take it up a notch, celebrate your 21st in the city of sin with an actual trip to Las Vegas with your friends for the real deal.

It's a really popular theme for a men's 40th birthday party.