55 Best New Year’s Eve Party Ideas for You and Your Crew | Arena

If you aren’t sure how to celebrate the end of 2022 and the kickoff of 2023, these 55 New Year’s Eve party ideas will close out 2022 and ring in 2023 on a high note—and most will work virtually as well as in-person, so you can do whatever makes you feel safe and comfortable this third pandemic year while still having fun with your friends and family.

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Whether you opt for cutting a rug in your living room and celebrating virtually or having an in-person dance party, here’s a great playlist of New Year’s Eve songs to get down.

Host a viewing party for your favorite movies and TV episodes of 2022.

Think of all the viral, meme-able people and moments of 2022. Then, dress up as your favorite and go down YouTube and TikTok rabbit holes together to reminisce! You can even play the card game!

Can you believe the actual Roaring ’20s were a century ago?! Rock your best flapper gear to welcome 2023.

Whether you purchase a feathered, sequined eye-covering or craft one up with your pals, a masquerade party can be a fun reprieve from all the other masking you’ve had to do for going on three years now.

Always wanted to try a cat eye but could never get it quite right? Does your BFF want to finally find a red lipstick that works? Get your most glam pals or hire a pro makeup artist to give you and your pals lessons, then show off your full beats in some seriously flattering selfies.

Did you religiously follow all the Jeopardy! drama this year and have a girl crush on Amy Schneider? Do you and your pals text each other Wheel of Fortune memes constantly? Why not host a game show party to cap off the year? Game Night Out lets you hire a host to lead a slew of fun games for you and your crew, including scavenger hunts, trivia, skill-based activities and more, for teams and individuals alike.

Admit it, are you a celeb gossip junkie? Did you ever host a fansite? No shame in your game! Have everyone chip in for a Cameo from a star you all love. You’ll have an amazing memory for the end of 2022, and many stars donate their proceeds to charity, so you can feel better about the potential budget splurge, too.

One way to kill an hour before midnight is to spend it trying to get out of an escape room! Find one near you, then toast to your brilliant victory (or down your sorrows) with some drinks afterward.

Murder mystery parties will keep you and your crew guessing all night, and they work just as well virtually as they do in person in case you’re still nervous about gathering in the flesh. Try Night of Mystery and Red Herring, or The Murder Mystery Co. for a traditional (if virtual experience). Bonus points if you dress in costume as your designated character!

Turn up the heat and bust out the grass skirts and pina Coladas! With summer far out, get a taste of it now with a luau-themed New Year’s Eve party and go totally coconuts.

Chances are you’ve sat through a ton of annoying slideshows at work this year, whether remotely or in the office. Have everyone translate those skills to sharing photos from your favorite memories of 2022 and of things you’re looking forward to in 2023.

Sip on some great vino with a wine tasting party. 

If you’re more into spirits than wine, hire a bartender to give you and your guests a mixology class. (Just be sure no one is drinking and driving!) You may also be able to hire a bartender for virtual sessions as well.

Are you unrivaled at hula hooping? Does your husband nail the Cotton-Eyed Joe? Can your BFF belch the alphabet backward? Take turns showing off your skills and hidden talents!

Head to a magic show or hire a magician for a private show—or teach yourself (and your guests) some fun tricks to use at a future gathering!

If any of you have a new year’s resolution to start meal planning or cooking at home more, get a head start with a cook-along party. Whether you hire a chef in person or go to a class, this is one party that will have benefits lasting way beyond midnight.

Treat yourself to some me-time, whether solo or with pals. Face masks, deep conditioners, mani-pedis, scented candles—kickstart your self-care resolutions early. Don’t forget to make fun of one another’s goofy sheet mask looks!

Whether you’re a veteran of Dungeons & Dragons or a newbie, it can definitely eat up a few hours! Grab some dice and get into it. Bonus points if you all dress up as your chosen characters!

Whether you go to a swanky hotspot or host at home, have everyone dress up in their finest formal finery. Any excuse to dress up is a good one, and you’ll welcome 2023 in style.

Find an astrologer to give you and your loved ones some astrological readings, and have everyone dress up as their respective star sign. (If any of your guests roll their eyes, assume they’re a Virgo or a Capricorn.)

Schedule a psychic to give readings, or just get your pal who’s into tarot and tea leaves to give everyone her predictions for 2023. (Here’s hoping she gives good news!)

Let’s be real, the undead roaming the planet was basically the only thing missing from 2022. Get ghoulish with makeup and prosthetics, stream some zombie movies and enjoy a zombie apocalypse party.

Rock the most ubiquitous trends from the year as it comes to a close, whether it’s athleisure, sweats, ’90s nostalgia, or flares (yep, they’re back!).

28. Fat Friday New Year’s Eve Party

Whether we like it or not, a lot of us or our guests probably have a New Year’s resolution to get healthier, which means eating healthier … which, for a lot of people, means dieting (yecch). Make it a potluck where guests sign up to bring their favorite fattening guilty pleasures, be it mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, chocolate cake—whatever they’ll miss most when they start counting calories in January.

Channel Katy Perry and her iconic Teenage Dream era with a Candyland party theme. Have a dessert bar, rent a cotton candy machine, maybe invest in some fun gummies (if you know you know), and go to town.

The New Year feels shiny and, well, new, so capitalize on the feeling with metallic everything—and lots of glitter and sequins, from the dress code to the decor (we sense a disco ball in your future).

Obsessed with true crime and not scared to get a little dark? Team up with pals for a few games of Hunt A Killer and some documentary binge-viewing.

Swifties, this one is for you! Rock out to your favorite songs about feelin’ (or leavin’) 22 and dress the way you did back when you were 22. It’s your last chance before it turns to 2023! Need more than just Swift’s pop-country classic? Here are some song ideas!

Yellowstone has continued to be one of the most fun shows of 2022. Host a binge-watching session and encourage everyone to dress up like they belong at the Dutton Ranch.

39. Batman New Year’s Eve Party

With the latest caped crusader installment having happened in 2022, celebrate with a Batman (or Catwoman!) themed party, complete with costumes. Anyone brave enough to dress up in George Clooney‘s bat suit with its trademark nipples should get a prize.

Have all of your guests dress up as one of the biggest stars or news stories from the year of their birth. (If that feels too broad, specify each person’s birth date as the parameter!)

Have each guest bring a signature dish from their cultural background for a smorgasbord of deliciousness.

Pick a color and have every guest rock it from head to toe. You can also assign a different color to each guest and go all-in on the color party trend, or make it a rainbow theme.

Believe it or not, a Naked Lady Party isn’t nearly as titillating nor as scandalous as it sounds, though it’s still fun: Everyone brings some clothing they want to get rid of, and everyone can get something new from everyone else. It’s a great way to pare down your wardrobe or rediscover something you loved but haven’t worn yet (it may go well with the earrings your BFF would have otherwise tossed, for example). If there are clothes left over that no one wants, donate them and enjoy the tax write-off, as well as the knowledge that you all got your new duds in the most sustainable possible way.

Binge all the awards-bait movies that you didn’t get a chance to watch during the rest of the year so you can be ready for Oscar night!

A great option especially for those with kids, set up tents and old-school blanket forts inside (or in your backyard if the weather permits). Make s’mores, tell ghost stories around a fire or star-gaze, and embrace the simplicity after a long and rather complicated year.

Melt away your troubles with chocolate, cheese, and plenty of snacks for dipping at a fondue party.

From a grunge ’90s theme to a mod ’60s style, pick out a fun decade and have your pals dress up from that era—and make sure you have a playlist to match!

Talk about a glow-up! Host a blacklight party complete with neon outfits, blacklight tattoos, body paint, glow sticks and more.

Can’t make it to Vegas? Bring Vegas to you with poker, blackjack, a home roulette wheel, craps and a buffet.

Yep, this one is exactly what it sounds like. Bust out a charcuterie board, make grilled cheese, scarf down mac and cheese, watch cheesy movies, listen to cheesy songs, and, of course, enjoy cheesecake for dessert.

Certain foods are considered good luck to eat on New Year’s Eve, at midnight, and on New Year’s Day. Serve them all, from blackeyed peas to pomegranates to fortune cookies, noodles, greens, fish, and more.

Think Animal House, but much more civilized … only if you want it to be.

Blow bubbles, hang bubble lights, chew bubble gum, and, obviously, pop the bubbly!