Christmas party themes To help bring the festive fun to life

If you want your Christmas party to have a little extra sparkle and be the talk of the town this year, why not give it a festive theme?

At a time of year when everyone is beyond busy, and sometimes more than a little stressed, it’s great to create a diversion that allows everyone to just kick back and have fun.

Love the idea of having a theme, but short on ideas? Here’s a list I’ve put together of Santa-endorsed Christmas themes perfect for holiday season partying.

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Also read: 44 Showstopping Christmas Dessert Recipes

the bestest most fun christmas themes list ever

Take inspiration from any one of these delightful themes and start planning your fabulously festive party today.

A Winter Wonderland

Transform your venue into a magical winter wonderland. Think sparkling snowflakes, glittering icicles, and frosty blues and whites. Create a snowy backdrop for photos, and serve winter-themed cocktails like peppermint martinis.

Bad Elf on the Shelf

Add a mischievous twist to your Christmas party with a “Bad Elf on the Shelf” theme. Have guests come dressed as naughty elves, causing playful chaos throughout the night. Hide elves around the party space for a cheeky scavenger hunt.

Bad Santa

Go for laughs with a “Bad Santa” theme, where guests can dress as the jolliest—or naughtiest—version of Santa.

Set up a photo booth with props like oversized candy canes and coal, and don’t forget the spiked eggnog!

Black and Gold

Add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your Christmas party with a black and gold theme. Decorate with glittering gold ornaments, black tablecloths, and twinkling lights. Ask guests to dress in their most glamorous black and gold outfits.

Candy Canes

Sweeten up your Christmas party with a candy cane theme. Decorate in red and white stripes, serve candy cane cocktails, and hand out candy cane-themed favors. Guests can even come dressed as their favorite sweet treat!

Christmas Crackers Comedy

Inject some humor into your Christmas gathering with a “Christmas Crackers Comedy” theme. Have everyone come prepared with their best (or worst!) Christmas jokes, and host a comedy competition with prizes for the funniest punchlines.

Christmas Elvis

Bring a little rock ‘n’ roll to your holiday celebration with a “Christmas Elvis” theme. Guests can dress as The King himself in festive attire, and you can play Elvis Christmas classics all night long. Think white jumpsuits, blue suede shoes, and a whole lot of sequins!

Christmas Character

Let everyone’s imagination run wild with a “Christmas Character” theme. Guests can come dressed as their favorite holiday character, from Rudolph to Frosty to Mrs. Claus. The more creative, the better!

Also read: 16 Fun Christmas Party Games

Christmas HoeDown

Kick up your heels with a festive “Christmas HoeDown.” Think cowboy boots, flannel shirts, and plenty of country music. Decorate with hay bales and twinkling lights, and serve up some hearty southern comfort food.

Christmas in Vegas, Baby!

Bring the glitz and glam of Vegas to your holiday party. Decorate with flashing lights, poker chips, and slot machines. Encourage guests to dress as high rollers or showgirls, and serve up some classic cocktails.

Christmas Masquerade Ball

Add an air of mystery to your Christmas party with a masquerade ball theme. Ask guests to don elegant masks and formal wear, and decorate with rich, luxurious fabrics and dim, romantic lighting.

Christmas Movie Marathon

Host a cozy Christmas movie marathon. Set up a viewing area with plenty of blankets and pillows, and screen holiday classics like “Home Alone,” “Elf,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Serve popcorn, hot cocoa, and other movie snacks.

Christmas Neon Party

Take your Christmas party to the next level with a neon theme. Decorate with bright, glowing lights and neon signs. Encourage guests to dress in neon colors, and set up a UV light area for some glowing fun.

Christmas Number Ones

Celebrate Christmas with a soundtrack of holiday number one hits. Create a playlist of Christmas chart-toppers, and encourage guests to come dressed as their favorite music stars.

Christmas on the Beach

Bring some sunshine to your Christmas party with a beach theme. Think Hawaiian shirts, flip-flops, and tiki drinks. Decorate with palm trees, beach balls, and surfboards to create a warm, tropical vibe.

Christmas Pyjama Party

Get cozy with a Christmas pyjama party! Encourage guests to wear their comfiest Christmas PJs, and set up a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings. Add a pillow fort or some soft blankets to create the ultimate snuggly atmosphere.

Die Hard

Celebrate the action-packed side of Christmas with a “Die Hard” theme. Guests can come dressed as John McClane or other characters from the film. Set the scene with action movie props, and serve snacks inspired by the movie—Yippee-ki-yay!

Elf: The Movie

Bring the magic of Buddy the Elf to your party with an “Elf: The Movie” theme. Encourage guests to dress like Buddy, complete with green tights and pointy hats. Play scenes from the movie, and serve candy canes, candy corn, and syrup!

Dress as a Christmas Bauble

Get creative with a “Dress as a Christmas Bauble” theme. Ask guests to craft their own bauble-inspired outfits—glitter, tinsel, and plenty of sparkle are a must! Award prizes for the most creative and colorful designs.

Funny Christmas Hats

Make your Christmas party a laugh-out-loud affair with a “Funny Christmas Hats” theme. Guests can wear the silliest, most outrageous Christmas hats they can find, and you can hold a contest to see who has the funniest one.

Home Alone

Relive the mischief and fun of “Home Alone” with this party theme. Set up a “Home Alone”-inspired menu with mac ‘n’ cheese, pizza, and ice cream sundaes. Encourage guests to come dressed as their favorite characters from the movie.

Gingerbread House Building

Get hands-on with a gingerbread house building contest. Provide all the supplies, and let your guests compete to see who can create the most impressive (or hilariously disastrous) gingerbread house. Award prizes for creativity and style.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Celebrate the chaos and hilarity of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Guests can come dressed as their favorite characters, and you can serve eggnog and host an ugly Christmas sweater contest.

Naughty or Nice

Add a cheeky twist to your Christmas party with a “Naughty or Nice” theme. Guests can choose to dress as either a naughty or nice character, and you can serve a mix of sinful treats and angelic goodies.

Ornament Making Party

Get crafty with an ornament making party. Set up a crafting station with all the supplies needed to make unique and personalized Christmas ornaments. Guests can take their creations home as party favors.

Palm Springs Heyday Christmas

Throw a glamorous Palm Springs-inspired Christmas party with a 1950s flair. Think spray tans, oversized sunglasses, and OTT glam. Decorate with bright colors and mid-century modern touches for that true Palm Springs vibe.

Snow and Ice

Create a frosty, magical atmosphere with a “Snow and Ice” theme. Decorate with plenty of white, silver, and blue, and add snowflake accents everywhere. Serve icy cocktails and frosty treats to complete the winter wonderland experience.

Stranger Things Christmas

Combine the spooky with the festive in a “Stranger Things Christmas” theme. Guests can dress as characters like Joyce, Eleven, or Steve, and you can decorate with colored fairy lights and vintage 1980s decor.

Tacky Tinsel

Get everyone laughing with a “Tacky Tinsel” theme. Encourage guests to craft their own tinsel-covered outfits or accessories, and award a prize for the most creative or ridiculous use of tinsel.

Tartan and Scotch

Add a bit of Scottish flair to your Christmas party with a “Tartan and Scotch” theme. Guests can dress in their best tartan outfits, and you can serve a selection of Scotch whiskies. Decorate with tartan blankets and traditional Scottish touches.

The Grinch

Bring Dr. Seuss’s beloved character to life with a “Grinch” theme. Guests can dress as the Grinch or other characters from Whoville, and you can serve green-themed snacks and drinks. Decorate with Who-ville inspired decorations and plenty of holiday cheer.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Mix Halloween with Christmas in a “The Nightmare Before Christmas” theme. Encourage guests to come dressed as characters from the movie, and decorate with a mix of spooky and festive elements. Serve themed treats like Jack Skellington cupcakes.

The Nutcracker

Add a touch of elegance and tradition with a “Nutcracker” theme. Guests can dress as characters from the ballet, and you can decorate with nutcracker soldiers, snowflakes, and twinkling lights. Serve festive treats like sugar plum cookies and peppermint hot cocoa.

Tropical Christmas

Turn up the heat with a “Tropical Christmas” theme. Think Hawaiian shirts, lei necklaces, and tiki cocktails. Decorate with palm trees, pineapples, and plenty of bright, sunny colors to bring a bit of the tropics to your holiday celebration.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Make your Christmas party a cozy and fun affair with an “Ugly Christmas Sweaters” theme. Encourage guests to wear their most outrageous and over-the-top Christmas sweaters, adorned with everything from flashing lights to tinsel. Set up a photo booth to capture everyone’s festive fashion, and hold a contest to see who can claim the title of ugliest sweater. Complement the theme with hot cocoa, spiced cider, and plenty of holiday snacks.

Vintage Christmas

Step back in time with a “Vintage Christmas” theme. Encourage guests to dress up in Christmas outfits from a bygone era—whether it’s the roaring 1920s, the groovy 1970s, or any decade in between. Decorate with retro holiday decor, and play classic Christmas tunes from your chosen era. The nostalgic vibes will have everyone feeling festive and reminiscing about Christmases of yesteryear.

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Planning the rest of your celebration? Explore our Christmas games and activities for kids, teens and adults.