50 Themes for School Discos

School Disco Themes That Actually Work (And Some That Are Just Plain Fun)

When it comes to school discos, nothing beats a good theme - and one school’s recent Emoji Disco absolutely nailed it. With over 2,800 emojis to choose from (yes, really), there’s something for everyone: Poop emoji? Sorted. Princess? Easy. Zombie? Go for it. Whether kids want to go all-out or keep it simple, a theme like this makes dress-up fun and accessible.

The Fundraising Whisperer community loves a good school disco, and over the years they’ve shared loads of creative ideas. Here’s a roundup of the best - and most adaptable - themes out there.

Here are some great ideas for school discos:

🎭 Character & Dress-Up Themes

These themes work especially well for primary schools, but older students can have fun with them too—especially when there’s room for a clever costume or a bit of humour.

• Emoji
• Old Hollywood
• Decades (60s, 70s, 80s... pick one or mix them up!)
• Alice in Wonderland/Mad Hatter
• Harry Potter and the Wizarding World
• Classic Fairytales
• Goths vs Cheerleaders
• Famous Couples Through Time
• Superheroes (and not just the Marvel kind)
• Movie Characters
• Heroes and Villains
• Pirates and Princesses
• Angels and Demons
• What I Want to Be When I Grow Up (a great pick for graduation discos)

🎉 Fun, Flexible Themes

These ones are perfect when you want to keep it simple but still make it special. Easy for busy families to dress for, and easy to decorate for too.

• Masquerade

• Old-Skool / Retro

• Rock’n’Roll

• Hippies and Squares

• Wedding Party (think veils, suits, and tulle galore!)

• Black-Out (everyone dresses in black)

• Pyjama Party

• Circus

• Op-Shop Challenge (who can find the quirkiest outfit?)

• Underwater

• Jungle / Animal

• Space

• Letter Party (choose a letter and dress as something starting with it)

🌈 Visual Themes (Great for Decorations + Photos)

These themes are all about colour and spectacle. Perfect for glow products, lighting effects, and dramatic backdrops.

• Rainbow

• Glow Party

• Black & White

• Spots & Stripes

• Fire & Ice

• Gold / Silver

• School Colours

• Fluoro / Neon

• Glitter & Glam

📆 Event-Based & Cultural Themes

Seasonal and cultural events offer a ready-made theme, with plenty of inspiration for costumes, music, and decorations.

• Halloween

• Christmas

• Valentine’s Day

• Easter

• Winter Wonderland

• Day of the Dead

• Book Week

• Arabian Nights

• Ancient Greece

• Mexican Fiesta

• Around the World

• Brazilian Carnival

• Beach Party

• Hawaiian Luau

For some detailed costume and decoration ideas follow our Fundraising Whisperer Pinterest boards: Christmas, Disco Inferno, Halloween, Easter.