Inspiration
Grades:
High School

27 Unique 2024 Prom Themes That Set a Magical Mood

Spice up that old gymnasium.

2024 prom themes feature
By Katelyn Katz
Apr 18, 2024

You’ve seen the classic movie cliché of the high school prom—the one held in a sweaty gymnasium, bright white lights grossly illuminating the dance floor with measly balloons decorating the bare walls. Why not break this trope and hold the most magical prom your school has ever seen? Check out our list of 27 of the best prom themes with accompanying decorating ideas that will put a unique spin on this year’s high school prom.

Starry Night themed table
Ana Julia Conde via Pinterest

1. Starry Night

Immerse your students in Van Gogh art by projecting his iconic painting onto the walls and adding fun elements like stars and blue details to the tables.

Get the look: Projector, Space Tablecloth, and Artificial Daisies on Amazon

Venue with Wizard of Oz theme
Rose Brand

2. Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Get a yellow carpet or mat, add a rainbow onto the wall, and project or build a small Emerald City for one of the most whimsical prom themes.

Get the look: Yellow Brick Road Runner and Emerald Castle Backdrop and Blue Gingham tablecloth on Amazon

Great Gatsby themed Prom venue
Creative Rentals via Pinterest

3. Great Gatsby

Take your students back to the Roaring ’20s with this Great Gatsby theme. All you need is some flashy decor and you can transport your venue into a Gatsby-esque party!

Get the look: Gatsby Theme Welcome to the Party Door Cover, Roaring ’20s balloon set, and Roaring ’20s Photo Booth Props on Amazon

Prom venue with jellyfish hanging from the ceiling
Feel Good Events

4. Under the Sea

Blow up some fish and jellyfish balloons and let them float to the ceiling, add some blue LED lights and white furniture, and let your students feel like they are swimming through their prom venue.

Get the look: Jellyfish Decorations, Blue LED Strip, and Fish Balloons on Amazon

Venue with discos and 70s details
Planned 2 Perfection via Pinterest

5. Disco Party

All you need for this theme are TONS of disco balls. Put them on the tables, hang one from the ceiling, and let them spin.

Get the look: 50 Disco Balls, Disco Ball Balloons, and Disco Lights on Amazon

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Beach themed venue
Corporate Event Inspiration

6. Fun in the Sun

For a fun summery theme, all you need are beach balls and beach ball balloons paired with fun primary colors to feel like your venue is a beach.

Get the look: Beach Ball Balloons, 36-Count Leis, and Fishnet Decorative and Tablecloth Set on Amazon

Snow prom theme
My School Dance

7. Or Fun in the Snow?!

Alternatively, for a winter theme, all you need are blue LED lights and glistening decor to simulate ice! You can also get fake snow and line the floors to really transport your students to a snowy mountainside. Bonus points if you get the linked inflatable snow globe for prom pics!

Get the look: Blue LED Strip, Artificial Snow, and Inflatable Snow Globe on Amazon

Candyland decorations in venue
Alycia Corcoran via Pinterest

8. Candy Land

For a Candy Land theme, put colored squares on the floor to simulate the actual game. Put candy all around the venue and some colorful balloons to complete the theme.

Get the look: Candy Land Decorations, Candy Balloon Arch, and Colorful Floor Squares on Amazon

Carnival decorated venue
Hayley Isaacs

9. Carnival

If you can’t afford to go all out with a circus tent, hanging some tapestries from the ceiling and adding twinkle lights would work just the same. Be sure to decorate with primary-color details.

Get the look: Red Balloons, Red-and-White Pennant Banner, and Remote-Control Curtain Lights on Amazon

Enchanted forest themed prom
Chameleon via Pinterest

10. Enchanted Forest

Use dim lighting and maybe add some prop trees to create a magical forest for your students.

Get the look: Wisteria Arch, Large Mushroom Paper Lanterns, and Fake Topiary Trees on Amazon

Masquerade masks
My School Dance

11. Masquerade Ball

Show up wearing your very best, and don’t forget a unique masquerade mask to perfect the theme.

Get the look: 30-Piece Masquerade Mask and Black and Gold Party Decorations on Amazon

New York themed prom room
Snyder Entertainment

12. The Big Apple

The perfect way to re-create New York in your prom venue is to project the most iconic buildings onto the walls. With dim lighting, the venue will be transported to NYC!

Get the look: Projector, NYC Street Sign Cutouts, and New York City Neon Sign on Amazon

Rustic themed prom
Jeff Kielmeyer via Pinterest

13. Rustic

A barn is such a cute venue for a wholesome prom night. If you can’t pick your actual venue, pick minimal decorations and add tons of fairy lights with white tablecloths for a rustic theme.

Get the look: Remote-Control Curtain Lights, White Tablecloths, and Full-Size Straw Bale on Amazon

Jungle themed prom
Home and Events

14. Wild Prom Night!

Get a green carpet for your students to walk down, add blow-up or stuffed wild animals, and make sure to include tons of plants around your venue to re-create the jungle inside.

Get the look: Grass Area Rug, Inflatable Animal Figurines, and Fake Tropical Plants Bundle on Amazon

Students posing in a boat
Brainerd Dispatch

15. A Night in Venice

A prop boat and blue carpet to simulate water with “Venice” in the background would be the perfect photo op for your prom. (P.S.: Masquerade masks come from Venice, so combine the two themes for an elaborate prom!)

Get the look: Blue Runner Rug, 3D Cardboard Canoe, and 30 Masquerade Masks on Amazon

Tropical themed prom
Party Slate

16. Tropical Escape

Transport your students to a tropical vacation dinner, with candle-lit tables and fake palm trees adorning the space.

Get the look: Artificial Palm Tree, Tea Light Candles, and Purple LED String Lights on Amazon

Paris themed prom
Delmarva Now

17. Evening in Paris

A prop Eiffel Tower is a necessity for this “Evening in Paris” theme. Additional decorations could include tons of fairy lights and fun Parisian food like croissants and baguettes.

Get the look: Eiffel Tower Cardboard Cutout, Remote-Control Curtain Lights, and 18-Count Jumbo Croissants on Amazon

Neon themed prom
Jowong19 via Pinterest

18. Neon Night

This theme is a lot easier than it looks: Paint everything neon! Neon wristbands, neon balloons, neon paint, and a black light to make everything glow.

Get the look: 88-Piece Glow Party Pack, UV Neon Balloons, and Glow-in-the-Dark Face Paint on Amazon

Haunted mansion themed prom
Jon Lynch via Pinterest

19. Haunted Mansion

This is the perfect Halloween-themed prom. Place elaborate candelabras on tables and put cobwebs everywhere, but make it classy.

Get the look: Spiderweb Decorations, Candelabra Decoration, and Gothic Mansion Banners on Amazon

Alice In Wonderland themed prom
Architectural Digest

20. Mad Tea Party

Paint the floor with black and white tiles in a curved design and fill the venue with plants. Place eccentric, colorful tea cups and decks of cards on the tables, and you are transported to Wonderland!

Get the look: Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Set, Alice in Wonderland Playing Cards, and Alice in Wonderland Balloon Arch Set on Amazon

Casino themed prom
Kirsty Delaney via Pinterest

21. Casino Night

To pull off a casino theme, make everything themed to a deck of cards. You can be creative with this one, but definitely keep the colors only black and red to sell the theme.

Get the look: Dice Boxes Decor, Casino Night Backdrop, and Casino Party Hanging Decoration on Amazon

Out of this World prom theme
Disney Parks

22. Out of This World

Transport your students to a whole other planet with this intergalactic theme. What a great excuse to buy some lasers! Also, an astronaut helmet is the perfect photo-booth prop.

Get the look: Astronaut Vests and Helmets, Galaxy/Star Projector, and Planet Paper Lanterns on Amazon

80s themed prom
The Temple House via Facebook

23. Back to the ’80s

Have your ideal prom with this blast from the past. Your students might not get the niche references, but they will still have a great time while you get a blast of nostalgia. Neon and scrunchies are a must.

Get the look: ’80s Party Bundle and Backdrop, Neon Balloons, and Inflatable Boombox Beverage Cooler on Amazon

Hollywood themed prom
md067.k12.sd.us

24. A Star Is Born

Let your students feel like Hollywood stars with this classic prom theme. You will need a red carpet (obviously), and have your chaperones take flash photos of your students as they strut down it.

Get the look: Red Carpet, Movie Hanging Decorations, and Paparazzi Cardboard Props on Amazon

On Cloud 9 Prom theme
Monica Preston via Pinterest

25. Starlit Paradise

This theme is gorgeous for all seasons. All-white everything with DIY clouds lining the ceiling will make your students feel like they are literally and figuratively on Cloud 9!

Get the look: Cloud Decoration With Remote Light, Transparent Bubble Balloons, and White and Silver Napkins on Amazon

Garden prom theme
Kady Finds via Pinterest

26. A Garden of Glamour

Add tons of lush greenery to your space combined with tons of pixie lights and mystical garden accents to transform your prom venue.

Get the look: Pixie Lights, Firefly Lights, Hanging Wisteria Flowers, Butterfly Wall Decor on Amazon

black white prom theme
Ober, Onet & Associates

27. Black & White

Buy some black and white balloons and centerpieces for an incredibly simple yet timeless prom theme. Use white tablecloths and black chairs, and make the dress color palette black and white as well!

Get the look: 100 Black and White Balloons, White-and-Silver Tablecloths, Black and White Artificial Flowers, Pixie Lights on Amazon

Did you enjoy these unique prom themes? For more prom inspiration, check out our Favorite Prom Chaperone Outfits for Teachers!

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Check out our list of 27 unique prom themes to spice up that old gymnasium, and make it into a venue your students will never forget.