9 Cool Oscar Party Ideas

On the lookout for unique Oscar party ideas that Hollywood itself would envy? The Academy Awards show is an exciting day for just about everyone, from the film buff to even the casual movie-goer. And though the pandemic has disrupted the Oscars over the last couple of years, it’s safe to say that 2023’s awards show is going to be huge! All you need are a few Oscar party ideas to make your night just as grand.

So unless you’re going to finagle an invite to Sir Elton John’s 2023 Oscar viewing party, why not turn the biggest awards show of the year into your own viewing party event? That way, you and your group can celebrate the wins right along with the stars! If you’re not sure where to get started, don’t worry, we have you covered. These Oscar party ideas will have you and your guests feeling as glamorous as the nominees.

Besides exciting Oscar party ideas, Peerspace can also help provide you with sensational Oscar party venues! After all, what better way to feel like you’re a part of the glitz and glam than by dressing up and partying with your favorite people at a pristine and one-of-a-kind location?

To give you an insider’s glimpse, we’ll share information about real Peerspace venues that we think are perfect for your Oscar party. Let’s get started!

1. Take your viewing party to a hot new Peerspace venue 

Yes, we at Peerspace firmly believe in watching your favorite stars from the comfort of a glamorous space of your own! Peerspace has thousands of Oscar-worthy venues available to rent by the hour in cities across North America and beyond.

This Oscar party idea is the easiest way to upgrade an ordinary get-together into an extra special occasion. With Peerspace, you can turn a local art gallery or theater into your viewing party venue. You can rent a swanky mansion, a modern penthouse, or a historic home. Venues of all types are available to rent by the hour.

Here is just a sample of our favorite Oscar viewing party spaces:

• This mansion with a castle look in Saddle River, NJ (pictured above) with a huge kitchen, indoor pool, and outdoor sports courts
• This film/photo studio in London, UK that doubles as a private screening room with a kitchen, a projector, a large screen, and surround sound
• This 1920s Old Hollywood romantic Spanish villa in Los Angeles, CA with original hardware, high ceilings, arched windows, and a dining room that opens onto a courtyard
• This warehouse loft with a private drive-in in Chicago, IL with a lobby, sofas, cocktail seating, four TVs, a projector screen, speakers, and an indoor putting green
• This penthouse duplex in Paris, France at the top of Montmartre with a terrace, comfy seating, a kitchen, and a large-screen TV
• This luxury Brickell high-rise condo in Miami, FL with multiple HD TVs, a full kitchen, and a balcony with city and ocean views

As you can see, you can rent amazing spaces in cities across the globe. Plus, when you book a Peerspace, you can enjoy the full support of your venue’s local host. They are happy to be as hands-on as you need as you plan your party.

2. Serve star-worthy eats

Every party needs food. Get fancy with food-centric Oscar party ideas! Serve plenty of appetizers, like gourmet popcorn in cute buckets, bruschetta, smoked salmon, deviled eggs, meatballs, and tiny fruit parfaits. An Oscar party is the perfect excuse to go all out with a charcuterie board. (If you’re short on time, Trader Joe’s sells a wide variety of frozen appetizers that look as good as they taste). Stick with the Oscars color scheme and use black and gold plates, cups, napkins, and utensils.

To create the ultimate movie theater experience at your Oscar party, set up an upscale candy buffet and rent a popcorn machine for extra fun. Use glass jars to display candy-like black Twizzlers, gold and black M&M’s from party stores or the M&M website, gummy bears (you can get exotic flavors from Albanese Candy, like pineapple for a pop of gold), and chocolate gold coins.

You can even get actual gold rock candy from Dylan’s Candy Bar that is (almost) too gorgeous to eat! The signature lollipops from See’s Candies that come wrapped in black and gold would also make a lovely addition to your display. When you set up a table full of aesthetically pleasing, delicious candy, your guests will feel like they’ve stepped into Willy Wonka’s factory. Check out what the world’s best chefs are saying will be the biggest food trends in 2023 for the freshest inspo.

These great movie birthday party ideas can help you plan the next milestone event for all of your movie-buff friends!

3. Give out Oscars to your guests

Join in on the fun and give out Academy Awards of your own! Use ballots and envelopes just like the real deal, and make sure everyone gets their nominations in at the beginning of the party. Use categories like Best Music Taste (like the best score award), Most Dramatic, Best Sense of Humor, Best Sense of Style, Best Storyteller, and Best Dancer (you may have to have some guests show off their moves and skills first).

Announce winners during commercial breaks so that you have something to do when the show isn’t on. You can award them with plastic statues from Oriental Trading or chocolate ones from a party store.

4. Dress up like you’re attending the real thing

Who doesn’t love an excuse to dress up? Break out the formal gowns, suits, tuxedos, heels, and dress shoes. Don’t think you own anything glam enough? Repurpose bridesmaid or groomsmen dresses or take a trip to the thrift shop.

Or, if you’ve got a silly, fun-loving crowd, go for eclectic looks a la Met Gala for a fun twist. Complete your looks with bold lipstick, jewelry, and elegant hairstyles. Encourage everyone to participate in dressing up by having a competition for the title of “Best Dressed.”

5. Host your own red carpet photoshoot 

When else are you going to have a chance to strut your stuff on the red carpet? Set up a red carpet (you can make your own out of red fabric or find one at a party store or on Oriental Trading) and a backdrop.

For a cheap, do-it-yourself option, set up some PVC pipes and silver or gold fabric. Grab some gold photo props or typical red carpet accessories like purses and clutches for everyone to hold. Call on your photographer friend (we all have one) to play paparazzi, and have your guests strike a pose.

6. Cast your own votes 

Vote for your favorite winners before the awards show begins. Hand out ballots (which you can find for each year in PDF form online) and have everyone fill in their predictions in each category. Instead of betting on the award winners, give out prizes like movie tickets to the guest with the most correct predictions.

7. Create a film-inspired playlist

Assemble songs from the current score and song nominees, as well as past winners for one killer party playlist. If you aren’t sure what soundtracks to choose, here are some good ideas to start with: La La Land, A Star is Born, Titanic, Purple Rain, and almost any Disney soundtrack (which is a great idea if you have kids at the party!).

Need a sweet space to make it happen? Then why not book this penthouse with a two-story balcony in Hallandale Beach, FL? It’s a gorgeous space with views, TVs, and a surround sound system! Not only is this a great chance to dance and sing along, but the playlist will also help drown out any annoying, repetitive commercials.

Pepper in some of our chic Hollywood theme party ideas, and your Oscars gathering just got a whole lot more glamorous!

8. Mix some drinks with movie magic

Create some cocktails themed after the nominated movies or past winners. Or, go for a more generic approach with these Hollywood-inspired cocktails. (If you have kids at the party, classic virgin drinks like Roy Rogers and Shirley Temples are perfect!) If you aren’t up to mixing drinks, champagne is a must. You can even give everyone their own mini bottles for the party.

To make it even better, why not book a stylish Peerspace venue that has everything you need, and more? For instance, you can book this Minneapolis event space and enjoy its speakeasy bar, screening room theater, lounge, and game room. It’s the type of Oscar party ideas venue that will delight everyone on your guest list!

9. Play movie trivia

Choose a few popular nominees and come up with some trivia questions about each one. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this resource by Triviawell to curate the trivia and answers that you think pertain best to your party.

You can also incorporate questions about past winners as well, to be fair to those who haven’t seen all of the recent films. Offer prizes to the winners, such as movie tickets, movie memorabilia, gourmet candy, or DVDs/Blu-rays.

Bonus idea: pre-game with past Oscar winner!

Make your Oscar party a multi-night affair by inviting your guests over for an Oscar movie binge before the big night. This serves many purposes: to set up a context for the current Oscar noms, to watch movies with your favorite people, and to party!

Not sure where to start? Check out this ranked list by Vulture that includes every Oscar best-picture winner ever. It may sound like quite an undertaking, but just choose a couple of movies and host the binge on a night that works for all your guests, like the weekend leading up to Oscar night.

Is your home or apartment not exactly party-worthy? Check out Peerspace for party venues, especially homes with private screening rooms. Just don’t forget the popcorn. This is possibly one of the best Oscar party ideas for true movie buffs!

Oscar party ideas come to life with Peerspace

Whether you are into the music, the acting, or the cinematography of films, everyone can enjoy the Academy Awards show. Come together with friends this awards season to celebrate the magic of Hollywood with these fun Oscar party ideas.

And when you host your event in a sophisticated Peerspace venue, you’ll elevate the experience to the next level. Since you only rent a space by the hour, you only pay for the time you’re actually using the venue, unlike on other platforms.

And as we mentioned, a gorgeous venue is only the start. Talk to your venue’s help host to see if they can help arrange catering, A/V equipment, bar staff, and anything else to make your party incredible.

Hosting your friends and family at a private, upscale venue helps ensure you get into the Hollywood mindset. And who knows, maybe you’ll all enjoy it so much, it will become a new annual tradition!

Find unique Oscar party venues on Peerspace