35 Cool And Unique Teen Birthday Party Ideas

Hey there birthday planners! Looking for teen birthday party ideas? We’ve got you covered.

Turning 13, 16, or 19 is a huge milestone in a teenager’s life and what better way to celebrate it than with a killer birthday party? Here’s a list of some fun and unique ideas to make your teenager’s birthday one for the books.

1. Movie Night

Rent a projector, pop some popcorn, and have a movie marathon with all your teen’s friends.

For summer birthdays, having an outdoor movie night party is so much fun. Set up the projector in the garden and hang up a screen. You can use foldable chairs for the teens or just let them lounge around on bean bags and large picnic blankets.

Bonus points if you theme the night around their favorite movie franchise (check out our Harry Potter themed food ideas!) and even hire a food truck to come along and give out hot dogs or burgers at your outdoor movie party.

As well as for a party, this is one of our favorite things to do with teenage daughter in general.

2. Escape Room Challenge

A live escape room is a perfect birthday activity for a group of adventurous teens. They’ll have to work together to solve puzzles and escape before time runs out.

There are so many fun games and experiences that you can book onto, depending on your location. For example, the tomb raider experience currently in London, break out from a real prison (at Shrewsbury Prison) or go for themes like Alice in Wonderland or Titanic.

You’re sure to find something to fit your teen’s interests. This one is a great birthday party idea for smaller groups of around 4-8 teens.

3. Karaoke Party

Rent a karaoke machine, set up a stage, and let the birthday singer shine! Alternatively, you can book exclusive use of a Karaoke room at some restaurants or bowling alleys. Ten Pin in the UK has karaoke rooms at bowling alleys including at Cheshire Oaks.

This is a great idea for the teen who loves to perform. Head to a karaoke lounge for a night filled with singing and fun. Choose from thousands of songs and sing the night away!

Check out our list of best party songs for kids, or best empowering songs for your playlist if you need some inspiration for your karaoke birthday party.

4. Pool Party

If it’s summertime and you have access to a pool, a pool party is always a hit with teens.

Don’t forget the music, snacks, and sunscreen! Rent a private pool or head to a water park for a summer birthday party.

You can also go along to an inflatable obstacle course on the water in many outdoor water parks in the UK, like Cotswold Water Park or Aqua Park at North Yorkshire Water Park. Be aware that all the kids will need to be strong swimmers for this teen’s birthday party idea.

You can have a barbecue, play pool games, and soak up the sun.

5. Spa Day

Treat the birthday teen to a relaxing spa day with her friends. This idea is more popular for a teenage girl. If you have a girl who wants to invite friends who are also girly girls then this is a fun way to celebrate her special day.

You could organize DIY facials, manicures, face masks and massages at home or book appointments at a local spa to get nails done.

Let the teens make their own DIY body scrubs to take home with the after the party. We love this bright pink cherry body scrub, or a classic lavender sugar scrub.

6. Concert Night

For the music-loving teen, a concert night is a must. Book tickets to their favorite band or artist and make it a night to remember.

It’s a good idea to book well in advance to secure the tickets you want, and be prepared that tickets for more popular artists are going to be expensive (so you will probably want to keep the number of guests way down!)

But, seeing live music is an amazing experience that your teen will love sharing with their closest friends.

7. Private Party Room

Hire a private room at a restaurant, lounge, or club for an intimate birthday celebration.

You can have a fancy dinner, drinks, and dancing for the birthday teen and their closest friends.

Hire a DJ, set some ground rules and you can give them a little more freedom here to have a fun without too much parental supervision. This is a popular option for young adults, who are no longer little kids, or check out some of these indoor games for teenagers if that’s something your group would enjoy.

8. Ice Skating Rink

Rent out an ice skating rink for a birthday party that’s all about slipping and sliding.

You could have a skating competition, play games, and enjoy some hot cocoa after.

Some ice rinks have disco nights with loud music and colorful disco lighting which is always popular with teens.

9. Slumber Party

For a sleepover style party, rent a cabin or set up tents in the backyard, decorate with fairy lights and have a bonfire.

Movie marathons, ghost stories, and s’mores by the fire – what’s not to love?

You could even hire glamping pods for the weekend if you fancy a change of scene, or take the birthday teen and a couple of friends to a nice hotel and let them enjoy the room service.

10. Amusement Park Adventure

Take the birthday teen and their friends to an amusement park or theme park for a day filled with roller coasters, cotton candy, and endless fun.

Depending where you’re based there are so many great options like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park in the UK, or six flags in the United States.

11. Game Night

A game night is a classic way to celebrate a birthday and it’s perfect for a teen who loves to compete.

You can organize a game tournament with board games, video games, and even air hockey.

Another option is to go to a VR center and play some VR games together.

12. Video Game Party

Set up a gaming tournament with all the latest consoles and games.

You can have a prize for the winner and snacks for all. Perfect for the teen who loves video games, whether that’s Fortnite, FIFA, Call of Duty, Last of Us, or any other game.

You can also hire gaming vans to come to your house with a setup for more kids to play on the consoles at once, if you want to expand beyond your living room.

Be aware that with the gaming vans, they are strict on age ratings so if the birthday teen is turning 14 years old then they wouldn’t let them play 15 rated or 18 rated games on the consoles in the vans.

13. DIY Party

Get creative with a DIY party! Whether it’s painting pottery, making tie-dye shirts, or creating a scrapbook, there’s something for everyone.

Check out some of these crafts for teens to make, to get some ideas of themes and projects for your teenage diy craft party.

14. Adventure Day

Plan a day filled with adventure for the thrill-seeking teen.

Activities could include rock climbing, go-kart racing, or even skydiving. If you’re in Wales, check out the zip lines and other adventures available with Zip World all across the country.

15. Dance Party

Rent a ballroom or community center and hire a DJ for a night of dancing and fun.

Dress up in fancy attire and make it a prom-themed party for extra excitement!

16. Sports Day

For the sporty teen, organize a day filled with their favorite sports activities.

This could include a friendly game of soccer, basketball, or dodgeball.

For football or soccer loving teens, hiring a five aside pitch at centers like Goals makes an ideal party venue.

17. Foodie Fun

Take the birthday teen and their friends on a culinary adventure by cooking or baking together, or trying out a new restaurant in town.

18. Artistic Adventure

For the creative teen, an art-themed birthday party is the way to go.

Set up an art station with paints, canvases, and other supplies, and let their imagination run wild.

You could book your teenager and her friends onto a pottery painting cafe where they can paint as they eat and drink and chat, and then take their finished piece home later on.

There are also some super fun paint and sip events where they’ll be led in how to paint a canvas on a certain theme. Some of these are themed with music like R&B or HipHop, search for companies like Paint Away Events.

Or even go for a session where you can make a giant collaborative graffiti street art piece.

19. Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt for the birthday teen and their friends to solve.

Make it as challenging or easy as you like and incorporate their favorite places and activities.

20. The Great Outdoors

For the nature-loving teen, plan a camping trip, a hike, or a picnic in the park. Fresh air, good company, and a birthday cake are all you need for a perfect birthday celebration.

To make it even more exciting, you could set off super early and go see the sunset as you climb.

21. Emoji Themed Party

Get emoji-crazy and have a birthday party that’s all about expressing emotions through emojis.

Your emoji party can have an emoji scavenger hunt, an emoji-themed cake, and even emoji-themed outfits!

emoji party idea for teens with emoji balloons

22. Murder Mystery Party

For a unique and thrilling birthday party, have a murder mystery party where each guest is assigned a character and they have to solve the mystery by the end of the night. Get ready for some drama and suspense!

23. Private Movie Theatre

Take the birthday celebration to the next level by renting out a private movie theatre for a movie screening. You can even bring in your own food and drinks for a VIP movie-going experience.

24. Dinner Party

Host a fancy dinner party at home or at a restaurant. Dress up, have a fancy meal, and make toasts to the birthday teen.

25. Adventure Golf

Mini-golf with a twist! Adventure golf features crazy obstacles and challenges that will have the birthday teen and their friends laughing and having a blast.

There are so many fun miniature golf places with themes that would be perfect for a teen birthday party such as neon glowing ones with black light. Check out golf fang for mini golf that’s not for little kids.

26. Mocktails

Your under 18 may not be quite at the age to go out for cocktails, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the non alcoholic version.

There are some cocktail bars which are fine to welcome teens a little earlier in the evening for mocktails and soft drinks.

27. Laser Tag

Rent out a laser tag arena for a birthday party that’s all about fun. You can do laser tag indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather and the vibes that you prefer.

28. Science Museum

Take the birthday teen and their friends to a science museum for a day filled with discovery and learning.

You can explore the exhibits, see a planetarium show, and even participate in hands-on experiments, depending on your teen’s interests.

Manchester science museum has a great exhibit with playable retro video games, while Liverpool museum is best for planetarium shows.

29. Trampoline Park

Take the birthday celebration to a trampoline park for a day filled with bouncing, flipping, and fun. You can have a dodgeball tournament, play on the obstacle course, and more.

This teenage birthday party idea is a lot of fun for a large group.

30. Beach Day

Take the birthday teen and their friends to the beach for a day of sunbathing, surfing, and sun.

You can have ice creams, play beach games, and watch the sunset.

31. Rock Climbing

For the adventurous teen, head to a rock climbing gym for a day of climbing and challenges. You can have a competition, learn new techniques, and push each other to new heights.

Decide whether you want to go for bouldering, or somewhere like Clip n Climb or Rock Up.

32. Art Gallery

Take the birthday teen and their friends to an art gallery for a day of culture and creativity. You can see the latest exhibitions, learn about famous artists, and discuss your favorite pieces.

There are so many interactive art exhibits nowadays like Van Gogh alive, and more.

33. Arcade

Head to an arcade for a day filled with games and prizes. You can have a tournament, play classic arcade games, and the birthday teen and party guests can have a great time.

34. Food Tour

Take the birthday teen and their friends on a food tour of their favorite city.

You can try different cuisines, sample local specialties, and have a blast trying new things. It’s a great way to celebrate the big day and satisfy their taste buds!

If you’re in London, somewhere like Camden market is perfect for this.

35. TikTok Themed Party

For the teen who loves TikTok, host a TikTok themed party. You can have a dance-off to their favorite TikTok dances, have a lip-sync competition, and even create your own TikTok videos. You can decorate with TikTok-inspired props, have a snack bar with TikTok-inspired treats, and more. It’s a fun and interactive way to celebrate the birthday and all things TikTok!

We hope you loved all of these cool teenage birthday party ideas and got some inspiration.

Make sure the idea that you pick is something the birthday teen will love and that everyone can have a blast.

No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to make the birthday teen feel special and celebrated on their special day. So have fun and happy party planning!

More Party Ideas For Kids of All Ages

Share these ideas with friends and family, on WhatsApp and social media. Why not pin to your Pinterest account?

35 cool and unique birthday party ideas for teenagers

In The Playroom

Website | + posts

Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.