The theme is the difference between a party and an experience

The 2026 zeitgeist is largely about looking back. Nostalgia is popular: the nineties, the eighties, the seventies. People long for a time they remember, or know through films and music. As an employer, you can light that feeling instantly.

Theme 1: The Nineties. Think neon colours, grunge, dance, Spice Girls, Tamagotchi and Friends. This theme works for teams with a broad age mix. The older colleagues lived it themselves. The younger colleagues love it through Netflix and Spotify. The decor consists of cassette tapes, a polaroid corner and neon lighting. The dress code is colour. The budget is €60 to €120 per person. This theme suits 50 to 500 people.

Theme 2: Studio 54 / Disco. Think gold, glitter, mirror balls and funky bass. This theme is timelessly glamorous and brings everyone on board. Even people who normally don't go for dress-up. The decor consists of mirror walls, soft ambient lighting and bars full of bubbling drinks. The budget is €75 to €150 per person. This theme suits a milestone celebration or gala setup.

Theme 3: Blockbuster / Film Night. This is an ode to the video rental shop, to popcorn and to the cinema experience. It works well as a multi-world theme: separate rooms with different film genres, actors walking around, crew outfits as dress code. The budget is €80 to €130 per person. This theme suits large teams who want to be deliberately of the zeitgeist.

More companies are choosing a theme that fits their sustainability course. It doesn't have to be heavy. You can make nature and sustainability cheerful and festive too.

Theme 4: Into the Wild. Think forest, campfire and sky. The outdoor decor consists of lights in the trees, long wooden tables, wild food and acoustic live music. This theme works best at an outdoor or forest venue. The dress code is informal outdoor clothing. The budget is €70 to €130 per person. This theme suits teams who love the outdoors and want an informal atmosphere.

Theme 5: Garden Party Deluxe. Think flowers, greenery and white linen for a garden party, only exuberant. Think cocktails, live music and beautiful floral decorations. This theme is elegant without being formal. The budget is €75 to €140 per person. This theme suits mixed teams and client events.

Theme 6: Harvest Festival. This is a harvest celebration with a culinary focus: regional products, a food market layout, brewers and winemakers present and seasonal produce. This theme works well in autumn (September to November) and suits companies with a sustainability profile. The budget is €65 to €110 per person.

The category that has grown the fastest in recent years is that of immersive events. These are parties where you feel you are somewhere, not just that you have gone somewhere.

Theme 7: Speakeasy / Roaring Twenties. This is a forbidden jazz club in the twenties. Think a secret entrance, a password, cocktails with gangster names and a jazz band. This theme is one of the most popular of the past five years, and rightly so. It immediately gives an adventurous feel. The budget is €90 to €160 per person. This theme suits all sizes, but works best for 50 to 200 people in a venue with character.

Theme 8: Night Market / Street Food Festival. Think an Asian street market, stalls, neon, street food and live entertainment. This theme combines culinary experience with atmosphere and movement. Guests walk, taste, explore. It is not a static dinner but an active evening. The budget is €75 to €130 per person. This theme suits large teams (100 to 500 people).

Theme 9: Cirque du Soir. This is circus glamour: think acrobats, magicians, fire-eaters, lavish decor and a master of ceremonies. This theme requires more budget but also delivers more spectacle. The budget is €100 to €200 or more per person. This theme suits an anniversary, year-end party or large celebration.

Sometimes the theme is the food itself. Culinary themes are popular because they combine experience and catering into one concept.

Theme 10: Around the World. Think food stations per continent or country, staff in the country's clothing, music per region and a passport as the menu. This is one of the most inclusive themes: everyone finds something tasty. The budget is €70 to €120 per person. This theme suits multicultural teams and companies with an international profile.

Theme 11: Summer Beach Festival. Think beach decor, cocktails, beach games, a DJ and sand (or artificial grass). This theme works best outside or at a beach club. It immediately gives a holiday feel. The budget is €55 to €100 per person. This theme suits summer parties, informal staff parties and teams who love the outdoors. More about organising a corporate beach party →

Theme 12: Belgian Brasserie. Think beer, mussels, chips, stew, a copper bar and conviviality. This theme is approachable, warm and accessible. It suits a company culture that doesn't go for excess but does go for quality. The budget is €50 to €85 per person. This theme suits teams who love conviviality and want an informal evening.

12 themes, but which fits you? Only you can answer that question. But we give you three anchor points that help with the choice.

Anchor point 1: who are you as a company? A technology company with a young team suits different themes than a traditional family business. The theme should mirror the company culture or deliberately break with it. Think a formal company that deliberately chooses something wild as a signal.

Anchor point 2: what are you celebrating? An anniversary calls for more grandeur than an annual staff party. Closing off a tough year calls for a theme that radiates looseness and relaxation.

Anchor point 3: what is the budget? Budget determines how far you can take a theme. A theme on a €50 per person budget feels different from one at €150. But even on €50 per person, you can deliver a great evening, if you make the choices wisely.

Our experience: the themes that work best are the themes where the staff truly do something. People cook, dance or play their part in the theme. Sitting passively at a show is fine, but being active in a theme is unforgettable. More about choosing the right theme for your staff party →

The themes are there. The inspiration too. What remains is the step from idea to execution. And that's where we help.

Live Impact organises staff parties from 50 to 2,000 employees, with themes that fit and execution that takes the burden off.

Call us on 085 401 40 14, send an email to hello@live-impact.nl or send your brief via our website.

Seriously fun.