18 Creative Graduation Party Themes To Delight Your Grad & Friends

Whether you’re celebrating a high school or a college graduation (or another kind of graduation entirely!), throwing an amazing party is one of the best ways to mark this enormous milestone and create lasting memories for everyone involved—not only your grad and their friends, but also proud family members and other community members who want to celebrate this accomplishment. To help you make this happen, we’ve assembled a list of the best, most creative graduation party themes out there.

As you review our top choices for graduation party themes, think about your dream graduation party venue, too. Once you’ve chosen a theme (or have a shortlist to consider), check out the amazing graduation party venues that are available for rent near you on Peerspace. It’s the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, so there’s almost certainly a space that’ll suit your party needs and preferences.

1. Make it a night in Paris

We’re starting this list off with one of our absolute favorite graduation party themes: Paris, France! From serving croissants and macarons to decorating the party venue with imagery of the Eiffel Tower and French flag, it’s pretty easy to execute—while also giving the whole affair an extra classy vibe.

2. Show you’ll be there for them with a Friends party

If your grad and their friends are huge fans of the show Friends—one of the biggest late 90s/early 2000s sitcoms—then make Friends the focus of their graduation party! It’s especially suitable for college grads, who’ll be entering the early-to-mid-20s, post-college life stage that the main characters of Friends are all in themselves.

3. Make it adorable with a penguin theme

Who doesn’t love penguins?! They’re one of nature’s most adorable and unique creatures, so what better theme for an equally unique grad party? Here’s one YouTuber’s guide to how she put this theme into practice for a real grad party, employing a fun black and teal color scheme for visual unity.

4. “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”

If you’ve ever read “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss, you’re well acquainted with how inspiring this book is. Remember this encouraging, hopeful quote? “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Bring the inspirational, fun, and colorful vibe of the book to your grad party with this amazing theme.

5. Totally party with an 80s theme

Celebrate your “rad grad” in perfectly 80s style with plenty of neon, boomboxes and cassette tapes, and other appropriately retro imagery.

Add more fun and activities to your grad party using our memorable graduation party theme ideas!

6. Make it all about the grads with a 70s party

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Some soon-to-be grads are more into the vibe of the 70s than the 80s, and that’s ok—it’s just as easy to throw a groovy retro party inspired by the “Me” decade.

7. …Or go way back to the Roaring 20s!

This is a little less “retro” and a little more straight-up “vintage,” but don’t be surprised if your grad prefers a flapper-inspired party! If they’ve ever read The Great Gatsby, they might have an affinity for the Art Deco glamour of the era.

8. Get chic and earthy with a boho graduation party

This is an especially great fit for an outdoor graduation party, but you can give almost any space a boho feel with the right touches—think lots of natural wood and plants, earth tones, succulents, and the like.

9. Make it elegant, classy, and more

For grads who enjoy the finer things and prefer a more elegant aesthetic, it’s possible to achieve this look and feel with a bit of creativity. Here are 35 great ideas to help you do that.

10. Remind them you know they’re “One smart cookie”

Any grad party that includes its own cookie bar is a hit in our books. This grad party theme is a play on the phrase, “They’re one smart cookie,” which your own grad has proven by successfully graduating!

11. Add color and femininity with florals galore

It’s hard to imagine decor that’s more lovely and feminine than lots of flowers! Not to mention that they make an amazing backdrop for your grad photoshoots.

12. Embrace opulence with a white and gold color story

Speaking of truly classy looks, the combination of white and gold makes for an amazing color scheme—incorporate it into everything, from the food you serve to the decor and table settings. You can even have a white and gold dress code for your guests!

13. Throw a party that’s sweet and timeless with a Disney theme

Does your grad love to visit Disney World every year, or watch every Disney movie in existence and sing along to all the classic songs? Then a Disney-themed party will be right up their alley!

Plan the perfect grad party menu using these creative graduation party food ideas!

14. Create a setting reminiscent of a magical fairytale

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There are so many ways to incorporate this magical theme into a grad party. Here are 15 awesome suggestions for doing so.

15. Do as Barbie would do this grad night

One of the central themes of the most recent Barbie movie was that girls and women can do anything they put their minds to! That’s what makes Barbie an extra perfect graduation party theme for grads who really enjoyed the film and its message.

16. Plan an ocean-filled under the sea party

Whether your grad loves “The Little Mermaid,” is really into swimming, or is fascinated by marine life, they’re sure to enjoy an ocean-themed grad party.

17. Legally Blonde and finally graduated

Elle Woods is an inspiring graduate—of Harvard, no less!—so if your grad loves the movie “Legally Blonde,” why not use Elle Woods as the inspiration for your graduation party?

18. Embrace a vintage varsity theme

If your grad is a fan of everything vintage and throwback, they’ll love this vintage varsity grad party theme, which evokes old-fashioned letterman jackets and the high school aesthetics of days gone by!

Graduation party themes: conclusion

Now that you’ve gotten some serious inspo when it comes to graduation party themes, it’s time to decide on a venue. Take a look at Peerspace’s offerings in your area to see if there might be a venue that’s a great fit!

Find unique party venues on Peerspace