Turning 15 is a major milestone for teens! It’s an age where you might want to throw an epic birthday party. Most importantly, though, your teen wants to celebrate their individuality at this age, so choosing a party that suits them is a must. Whether you’re planning something low key or want to go all out with a quinceñera, there are plenty of 15th birthday party ideas to make your teen feel special.
Ready to start planning a party they’ll never forget? We count down 20 of the best 15th birthday party ideas for boys, girls, and mixed groups, plus tips on how to pull them off without a hitch.
Mixed Group 15th Birthday Ideas
1. Scavenger Hunt Party
Create a fun scavenger hunt with a variety of tasks, photo challenges, and trivia. Divide into teams and see which team reaches the end first. You can also ask your 15 year old their interests to come up with a theme for the scavenger hunt!
Party Tip: Have all the guests meet at the end for cake and the birthday song.
2. Beach or Pool Party
If your teen’s 15th birthday party is during the summer,consider having a pool or beach party! Any time you add water to a party, it’s instantly better. Blow up a bunch of floaties, host pool games, and blast a music playlist to keep things fun.
Birthday Party Planning Tip: Have extra sunscreen and towels handy. Make sure to supervise the attendees while they’re in the water.
3. Karaoke Night
Create your own karaoke setup with an app, speaker, and mic, or rent a karaoke machine like the professionals. The party’s guests can sing on a stage, either solo or in groups. If your teen’s friends are really into kpop or Taylor Swift, that can be part of the 15th birthday party theme!
Party Tip: Hand out funny awards like Most Dramatic Performance.
4. Cooking Challenge Party
Is your teen interested in cooking shows? Host your own reality TV challenge and give teams some mystery ingredients to create mocktails, cakes, or snacks. The best part about this birthday party idea is that it also takes care of all the food for the party!
Party Planning Tip: Make sure to supervise, and keep a judging panel ready! Make sure everyone is being careful when using the stove and knives!
5. Theme Party
Pick your own vibe with themes like “Y2K,” “The Movies,” or “Black & White.” Ask your guests to dress up and decorate your house in the chosen theme.
Party Tip: Think of fun games and trivia that match the theme.
15th Birthday Party Ideas for Girls
6. Spa Day at Home
Treat the birthday girl and her friends to a DIY spa experience with face masks, cucumber slices, and their favorite music. Set up stations to give manicures and pedicures, and maybe even a make your own lip gloss table.
Party Tip: Add robes and cucumber water for an extravagant touch.
7. Boho Picnic Party
This Insta-worthy theme features cozy floor cushions, fairy lights, and charcuterie boards of all their fave foods. Host it in a park or backyard and encourage your guests to dress in boho-inspired outfits.
Party Tip: A polaroid station is a fun activity, and gives them a party favor to take home.
8. Birthday Dance Party with a DJ
Get ready to dance. Rent a small hall or clear out the garage for a neon dance party, and hire a local teen DJ who knows all the latest music.
Party Tip: Add glow sticks and a disco ball for fun.
9. DIY Photo Shoot
Set up different photo backdrops with props and lighting, and let your teen have fun with it. They can take turns taking pics with their phones or you could hire a photographer for an hour to make it professional.
Party Tip: Come up with a #hashtag they can use on social media for sharing the party’s pics.
10. Movie Marathon Night
Pick a movie theme and turn your living room into a theater. With a few carefully placed fairy lights, popcorn buckets, and blankets, you’ll get an instant cozy feel. Make sure to pick a movie that your 15 year old loves, but is also age appropriate for them and their friends!
Party Tip: Set up a projector in your backyard and earn some serious points with your teen.
11. Fashion Show Party
Invite your guests to create their own looks using thrifted items, costume pieces, or stuff they bring from home. Set up a runway and let every girl have a turn modeling their looks.
Party Tip: Add a judging panel and give points for most creative, funniest, and best looks.
12. Art & Paint Night
Get your teen’s artsy side flowing with a painting party. You supply their canvases, paint, and brushes, and they have fun letting the creativity flow. Just a heads up, this art project could get very messy so make sure to use a table cloth!
Party Planning Tip: Serve mocktails and snacks to make it feel like a real paint-n-sip party.
13. Slumber Party
You can never go wrong with the classic sleepover. Just don’t forget the essentials like movies, board games, and midnight snacks.
Sleepover Alternative: If you don’t want people sleeping over your house, consider hosting a sleep under instead! This way you have all of the fun of the sleepover, but instead everyone goes home at night!
15th Birthday Party Ideas for Boys
14. Game Night Party
Set up a range of video game consoles, board games, and card tournaments, and let the boys decide which ones to play. You can create stations for different games, with snacks and drinks to keep everyone happy.
Party Tip: Have a scoreboard with small prizes for the winners.
15. Laser Tag or Paintball
This is a great option for teens with a lot of energy. Even better, most venues offer birthday packages that include equipment and party rooms.
Party Tip: Tell the guests to bring water bottles and a change of clothes.
16. Sports Party
Does your teen love sports? You could rent a basketball court, soccer field, or skate park for a couple of hours and let them run free. Provide pizza, sports drinks, and maybe even jerseys for the kids to wear.
Birthday Party Tip: Hand out a birthday trophy to the ultimate winner.
17. Escape Room Challenge
Get their brains working while they party, and book an hour at a local escape room. This activity is great for small groups and it’ll keep everyone entertained.
Party Tip: Make the final clue lead the party to dinner and dessert.
18. Outdoor Movies and Pizza Party
Set up a projector in the backyard and let the boys watch all the latest new releases or classic comedies. Have some lawn chairs and blankets at the ready, and take everyone’s pizza orders while they’re watching.
Party Tip: Ask about any food intolerances or allergies when you send out invites.
19. Adventure Park
What better way to party? From zip lines to giant foam pits, adventure parks are a hit with teens. The boys can burn off energy and have fun with friends, leaving you to relax.
Party Tip: Ask about the park’s birthday packages for a stress-free event.
20. Arcade Party
Turns out, arcades are still cool. Even more so when you add in pizza and prizes. Many arcades now offer birthday rooms or group discounts, meaning you don’t have to plan a thing.
Party Tip: Make sure there’s enough prizes for everyone to take home at least one.
A 15th Birthday Party They’ll Never Forget
Turning 15 is a milestone worth celebrating, and you only get one shot to make it epic. Any one of these amazing birthday party ideas will make it a day to remember, so ask your teen which one they’d love the most. Regardless of how you end up celebrating, the most important thing is that they feel like the star of the party.
Need more party planning advice? Check out our other articles here.