12 Memorable 40th Birthday Party Ideas (2024)

Turning 40 is a remarkable milestone! Old enough to know better, young enough to enjoy the good life. Celebrate a renewed sense of self and a new set of open doors with one of these 40th birthday party ideas.

Once you’ve found your inspiration, visit Peerspace to select your perfect-fit birthday party venue. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace makes it easy to find and book stunning spaces near you.

Plus, when you book a Peerspace venue, you can reach out to your space’s friendly local host to request any extras, like help sourcing catering, equipment, or entertainment. You may have reached new heights of maturity, but that doesn’t mean you need to shoulder all of the responsibilities! Now, let’s get to our list of the most fabulous 40th birthday party ideas.

1. Throw a sensational vintage tiki party

There’s no way to go wrong with this bright, cheerful, and energetic theme. Want to go all out? Offer an evening of entertainment with authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian dancers and music. At the very least, opt for luxurious flower leis and greet guests with mai tai cocktails served in coconuts.

Your caterer should provide a menu of whole Kahlua pork, crab rangoon, ponzu chicken, and coconut-lime sorbet. Grass skirts are optional but Hawaiian shirts are required.

Decorations can be a huge undertaking, so instead, find a tiki-themed venue on Peerspace!

Some of our favorites include:

• This tiki room jungle hideaway in Lomita, CA (pictured above) with space for 15 guests, authentic tiki drinks, a jungle wall, and a water feature.
• This mid-century home and tiki bar studio in Atlanta, GA with space for 32 guests, a pool, and tons of fun decor throughout several rooms.
• This outdoor hidden gem tiki bar in Silverlake, CA with space for 10 guests, an entertainment system, an outdoor kitchen, and a patio.
• This Polynesian-inspired basement tiki bar in Nashville, TN with space for 15 guests, tiki mugs and carvings, bamboo walls, and plenty of comfy seating.
• This tiny tiki bar tropical oasis in Washington, D.C. with space for 30 guests, authentic tiki drinks, a water wall, a moss wall, a Moai statue, and a thatched roof.
• This spacious Pan-tropical bar and restaurant in Chicago, IL with space for 50 guests, on-theme food and drinks, karaoke, and indoor and outdoor seating.

This is only the beginning of the types of themed bar space you can rent through Peerspace! With more tiki-fabulous venues added all the time, it’s best to keep an eye on our platform to get first dibs.

2. Host a poker tournament and get competitive

By the time you reach 40, you should have a decent poker face. But hey, if you don’t, there’s no time like the present to develop that life skill. Hire a dealer and a couple of cocktail servers to create your very own poker tourney night. Provide your guests with chips to gamble away or cash in at the end of the evening for spectacular bottles of wine or casino-themed mixology sets. It’s also a really clever way to get everyone in on the celebration!

You can also book a real-life private poker hall on Peerspace, like this Park Slope private lounge in Brooklyn, NYC. It not only has poker tables, pool tables, and gaming machines but it also has comfy lounge seating and allows outside food. And what’s a birthday party without both food and R&R?!

This is also one of those Peerspace venues that has dozens of rave reviews from past renters. Like this one: “My experience here was amazing. We was able to enjoy all of the amenities to the fullest. 10/10”

3. Sail away on a cruise with your besties

Splurge out and invite a dozen of your closest friends on a domestic river cruise! Memphis to New Orleans; Charleston, SC, to Jacksonville, FL; the Great Lakes or the islands of New England. There are endless options from coast to coast.

Pack a carry-on for your guests as a party favor loaded with:

• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Candies and gum for those sensitive to motion
• An emergency solar-powered phone charger
• And matching hats or tees

Spend an evening or a whole weekend celebrating with the regional food, drink, and entertainment of your river destinations.

Love the idea of spending your birthday on the water? Then you need to see our other outdoor birthday party ideas!

4. Decorate your venue with a ruby red palette

The traditional color for a 40th wedding anniversary is such a striking color, why wouldn’t you use it as a 40th birthday party inspiration? This theme is a feast for the eyes.

Set dining tables with dinner dishes made of deep red-colored glass, Kate Spade black-and-white stripe table runners, black napkins, and saucer-style champagne glasses. Place centerpieces of elegant white candlesticks and bursts of fresh flowers in colors ranging from red to red-black. Plus, rhinestones and silver accented napkin rings will add sparkle! Your menu should also be constructed of ingredients that are bright in color and will contrast well with the serving pieces.

Take some of the work out of it by booking a red-themed venue on Peerspace, like this stunning luxury studio in downtown Los Angeles, pictured above. Past Peerspace bookers refer to it as “Beautiful space, way bigger than the photos can even show,” “Gorgeous!” and “The space was beautiful and very clean.” Sounds like a dream 40th birthday spot to us!

5. Mid-life crisis? Party like a teen instead!

At first, this sounds kind of dark for a 40th birthday party idea, but hitting the very middle of your life evokes all kinds of feelings. Negate the stereotype and embrace your inner badass by partying at the Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee, WI! Rent a bike of your choice and allow the experts to outfit you and your friends in the very finest in stylish safety gear. Take a guided tour (after a lesson, of course), then return to the factory for a tour of the museum and the works.

When you’re ready, adjourn to their event space for an American heavy metal-inspired party. Enjoy an in-house catered dinner of hearty comfort foods with unique presentations. Also, serve craft beer to your guests in personalized pint glasses. If budget allows, let Harley tees, lighters, and other logo items abound.

You can also opt to host an after-party at this versatile creative space in Roosevelt Grove, which has space for 400 of your closest friends. It boasts an open floor plan, industrial furnishings, an outdoor area, and a fireplace to bring your group together.

6. May the 40th be with you

Star Wars has a theme for every generation. To ride the wave of this 40th birthday party idea, start with a black backdrop with projected stars and proceed from there. If you’re a purist, reenact the cantina scene from A New Hope, Jabba’s palace from Return of the Jedi, or Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back. However, if you’re like every other fan, simply choose components that work for you! A perfectly respectable theme can be created from food and drink graced with Star Wars puns and lightsabers for everyone. 

Oh, and rent a vintage-inspired venue, like this versatile funky 70s retro bar in Los Angeles, CA pictured above! It’s an exciting event space with 2,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space that includes a bar, a DJ playing retro records, cozy seating, and a backyard with a hammock and an Airstream.

7. Take a calculated risk to get your heart pumping

A guided whitewater rafting trip is a safely scary way to celebrate your 40s! After you’ve navigated the rapids, meet your less adventurous friends on dry land for an upscale picnic. Reward your fellow risk-takers with giant towels and waterproof bags filled with snacks and themed water bottles.

Partying on a shoestring? Never fear; simply rely on our creative 40th birthday party ideas on a budget for chic and thoughtful ideas that won’t bust the bank!

8. Have a Dollywood-esque 40th bash

Perhaps budget and timing won’t let you travel to Pigeon Forge, but that doesn’t mean Dolly can’t make an appearance! Invite a crowd for your very own honky-tonk shindig. Serve Tennessee BBQ alongside live country music, if you can get it, although bluegrass is a nice substitute in a pinch.

Guests should dress flashy and fun, women with big hair and full makeup. Remember, with Dolly, there’s no such thing as too much.

9. Club 40

Ring in your fourth decade with sequins and spangles. Go to an existing club or create your own: all you need is a large, open space, a DJ, and a disco ball and you have a party! 

Serve drinks in a rainbow of colors and food in tiny, salty bites that are high in protein: scallops wrapped in bacon, skewered shrimp, and chimichurri steak bites. Provide glow necklaces and LED inflatable balls to elevate it to the right level of weirdly wonderful.

You can also search for bookable private clubs on Peerspace that are worthy of an epic dance party and that suit your personal style, be it elegant, funky, or minimalist. Best of all, no decorating beforehand or cleaning up afterward!

Here are a few spaces to get you started:

• This funky nightclub and bar in Hawthorne, CA (pictured above), with unique audio, lighting, and projection systems and space for 400 guests.
• This luxury club for photoshoots in Sunnyvale, CA with a bar, two stages, lots of lounge seating, and a dance pole, with space for 20 guests.
• This nightclub venue in Miami, FL with club lighting, a VIP area, a bar, a dance floor, and a dance pole, with space for 850(!) guests.
• This cool performance space and music club in Washington, D.C. with a handcrafted wood bar and stage, club lighting and music, and an outdoor roof deck, with space for 14 guests.
• This modern disco-themed nightclub in Los Angeles, CA with a rainbow disco floor, a stage for live music, and a variety of lighting colors and textures to dazzle the eye, with space for 300 guests.

All of these amazing spaces (and plenty more besides!) are just waiting for you to enjoy them. Book your favorite, grab your friends, and boogie the night away. 40 is only the beginning, after all.

10. Make a scrummy brunch 40th birthday party

In some circles, brunching is an art form. In fact, everyone should learn how to throw the perfect brunch party by age 40! 

Create a memorable 40th birthday party with a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar, Belgian waffles to order, fresh fruit, individual savory souffle, and decadent finger desserts. Your birthday brunch event may be so popular, that your friends will want to make it a regular part of your meal gatherings!

Discover more inspiration by reading our 13 unique birthday brunch ideas!

11. Embark on a festive sparkling wine tour

Visit Napa Valley for a custom journey down the sparkling wine trail. Be sure to load up on tons of sweet and salty snacks in the limo to ensure high energy levels. Also, don’t forget mini bottles of soda for caffeine and between boozing times.

Pack gift bags for your fellow revelers filled with things to keep everyone hydrated and happy: reusable water bottles, mints and gum, wine-themed tee shirts (“I’ll be there in a prosecco!”), packets of relief for pain and tummy aches. Hey, we don’t bounce back the way we used to. Stop along the way for a West Coast-friendly dinner at sunset and toast the second act.

12. Plan a movie-themed party

If you’re celebrating your 40th birthday in 2024, that means you were born in 1984 (we know, our math skills impress even us!) And in case you forgot, that was an amazing year for movies! 1984 saw the release of such films as Beverly Hills Cop, Sixteen Candles, and Splash, to name a few.

Why not choose one of your favorite 1984 movies and base your 40th birthday party ideas on it? This allows for endless creativity. You can also play the movie soundtrack, dress like the characters of the movie along with your guests, and base a menu on what is served in the film itself.

To get started, book a Peerspace party venue that also happens to have a private screening room (yep, plenty of those exist on our platform!)

Here are some of our favorite options:

• This contemporary glass mansion in Los Angeles, CA (pictured above) with a private movie theater room among its many, many high-end features.
• This best kept secret movie theater in Brooklyn, NYC, with a 160-inch professional screen and projector, Dolby digital surround sound, and a stage.
• This state-of-the-art luxury home in London, UK with a private cinema room with a color-changing starlit ceiling.
• This beautiful theater / screening room in Chicago, IL with recliner chairs, professional movie theater equipment, and a lounge.

Peerspace helps you rock your 40th birthday party ideas

Now that you have a few sensational 40th birthday party ideas, check out Peerspace to book your dream venue! From chic bars to panoramic-view rooftops, we have the perfect spaces to make your party come to life.

And if you need any add-ons, such as catering or furnishings, contact your venue’s help host to see if they’ll arrange it for you. It couldn’t get much easier (or any more exciting!)

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace