52 Quiz Theme Ideas You Can Use Right Now

If you’re planning a trivia night or quiz party, you’re probably searching for an appropriate theme. There are lots of things to take into consideration when choosing a theme—the season, current events, the interests of your guests—and we’ve got plenty of suggestions for them all.

Whether you’re looking for questions for a quiz that revolves entirely around one theme or for a single round of a longer game, we’ve done the brainstorming for you. Below are 52 ideas for quiz themes that are sure to get players engaged and curious, plus a couple of example questions for every theme.

Obscure Observance Day Trivia

It’s rare to go on social media without being bombarded with posts celebrating the arbitrary recognition day of that specific date. Some of these are rather sweet, like National Siblings’ Day on April 10, and some seem downright pointless, like National Mustard Day on August 6—seriously, who thought of that one? There are enough of these random recognition days to fill an entire quiz!

Question: April 26 is used to recognize what twisted, soft or crunchy snack?

Question: On the second Saturday of March, what funky, dated garment is celebrated annually?

Pool Party Summer Trivia

We’re in the thick of summer, so how about asking some summer-centric questions at a pool party? Give your guests some topical trivia by asking pool party-related questions like the examples we’ve listed below.

Question: How large is the average backyard lap pool?

Question: What is the most popular Popsicle flavor?

Winter Wonderland Trivia

What’s a better theme for your office’s winter holiday party than this one? It’s the perfect way to get your fill of cheer and gear up for celebration. This theme is also a good one for a “Christmas in July”-themed party, too.

Question: What astrological zodiac sun sign is born between January 20 and February 18?

Question: What U.S. state has the largest average annual snowfall?

Wedding Bells Are Ringing: Wedding Trivia

What’s perfect for a bridal shower or engagement party? Wedding trivia!

Question: In 2021, what was the average cost to throw a wedding?

Question: Traditionally, every wedding anniversary has a corresponding gift or present given from each spouse to the other. Which anniversary is the Ruby Anniversary?

Pop Star Royalty Trivia

Calling all divas! This is a great trivia theme to feature at a karaoke bar or a party full of music lovers. Before you know it, everyone will be joining in to sing these pop star’s biggest hits!

Question: Which pop star scored a Grammy nomination for a song containing the following lyrics: “Miss unafraid, Miss out of my way, Miss don’t let a man interfere”?

Question: How long did Whitney Houston’s ballad “I Will Always Love You” stay on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1992?

Hey, Batter Batter, Hey, Batter Batter, Swing! Baseball Trivia

It’s baseball season, so why not take a swing at these questions before heading to watch a big game? You can customize this theme to revolve around your favorite team or stadium.

Question: This baseball player played for three teams between 1968 and 1985, and was recognized for his handlebar mustache and unusual, body part-related name.

Question: How many World Series championships have the St. Louis Cardinals won?

Dog Breeds

If you’re a dog lover, try this theme the next time you’re looking to tackle some trivia. This is a great quiz theme to try at an office party if you work as a veterinarian or at a dog shelter.

Question: This tawny, medium-sized hunting dog, known for its ability to lure waterfowl, hails from a prominent Canadian province.

Question: What small, British dog breed is differentiated from its sister breed, the Norwich Terrier, by its dropped ears?

Cat Breeds

By the same token, your cat-loving friends will purr—er, pore—over this quiz theme. If your group loves animals all around, you could combine the dog and cat breed themes for one massive pet-themed quiz!

Question: Which non-shedding cat breed is named for its resemblance to larger, wild cats?

Question: These cats, known for their fluffy fur, snub noses, and heavy bones, are named for a historic South Asian region.

Fabric and Quilting Trivia

This is a great quiz theme or category for your crafting club. Gather your quilting crew and quiz them on these questions while you work on your current squares.

Question: What stretchy, velvet-like fabric has been popularized by Juicy Brand tracksuits and is also used in vacuum nozzles?

Question: What is the name of a quilt’s warm inner layer that is sandwiched between its top and backing?

Pretty Please, With a Berry on Top? Fruit and Vegetable Trivia

Summer brings to mind lush, green gardens that yield beautiful produce. These questions will leave everyone craving hearty veggies and juicy fruits. Feel free to keep it relatively basic or to branch out into rarer fruit and vegetable varieties.

Question: What popular summer berry is a member of the rose family?

Question: Varieties of this colorful vegetable include pattypans, crooknecks, and zephyrs.

Question: Named for a bird, these round orange berries are native to Europe but also grow in North America.

Question: What spiky melon has recently gained popularity as a vegan meat substitute?

One Grecian Urn, Two Grecian Urns, And A Fountain: Ancient Greece Trivia

Greek mythology enthusiasts will get a kick out of this one! However, there’s so much more to ancient Greece than just its gods and goddesses. Be sure to pepper in some questions about ancient Greek customs and culture, too.

 Question: What style of ancient Greek art primarily was featured on painted vases?

 Question: Who was the Greek goddess of agriculture and the harvest?

Musical Television Shows

Though they’re sometimes thought of as little tacky, musical television shows have stood the test of time—all while making us laugh and sing along at home. Perhaps intersperse a round of this theme’s questions in between episodes during a marathon of your favorite musical show.

 Question: What CW musical show featured four seasons of original raunchy, spoof-y songs, such as “Oh My God I Think I Like You” and “The Math of Love Triangles”?

 Question: What fantasy drama show aired a single, cult-classic musical episode in 2001?

The Office Trivia

There’s a plethora of trivia about the beloved sitcom The Office—heck, every episode contains at least a few plot points or memorable lines that make for excellent trivia fodder. If your friends aren’t superfans, consider keeping this theme more general. On the other hand, if you and your guests are Dunder Mifflin fanatics, you can make this a little harder by narrowing it down to just one season or exclusively asking the names of characters who spoke specific lines.

 Question: Which Dunder Mifflin employee started the toaster oven fire in season 2, episode 4?

 Question: Which character tears his scrotum dancing at Jim and Pam’s wedding?

 Question: Which of Angela’s cats did Dwight purposefully kill by feeding it pills and placing its body in a freezer?

Tools of the Trade: Toolbox Trivia

Awl and anvil, a backsaw and a hacksaw, what’s the difference? These are the questions that toolbox trivia will seek to answer. This is an especially funny theme to play with friends who aren’t so handy—humbling them with this game will perhaps motivate them to re-familiarize themselves with their toolboxes!

 Question: What are the two main categories of home tools?

 Question: What popular type of screwdriver features a crossed head?

Another One in the Basket! Basketball Trivia

This is a wonderful category to play before watching a basketball game, whether you’re at home or sitting in the stands.

 Question: How long are official NBA, WNBA, and NCAA basketball courts?

 Question: What two-handed basketball maneuver results in a loss of possession?

Disney Trivia

Of all the movie studio zeitgeists out there, Disney is perhaps the one with the most lore surrounding it. With so many movies, franchises, and theme parks, you have a nearly infinite well of fun facts to choose for your trivia game. Play this with your kids in the car on drive to a Disney Park, or before or after watching your favorite Disney movie.

 Question: Who is the love interest of Max Goof, Goofy the Dog’s son, in A Goofy Movie?

 Question: EPCOT, a popular park at Disney World, is an acronym. What do its letters stand for?

Baby Names Throughout the Years

This is a fun theme for a trivia game at a baby shower, or to play with friends who are new parents.

 Question: In 1980, this three-syllable moniker was the most popular name for girls in the United States.

 Question: This five-letter gender-neutral name may have seen an increase in popularity after being featured on the hit show Glee.

Cooking Methods Trivia

If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the trivia game—that’s how the saying goes, right? Put your cooking knowledge to the test with this fun theme. Be sure to include a mix of both well-known and obscure cooking methods to give players of all expertise levels a chance to get a question right.

 Question: What is a term for chopping leaf vegetables or herbs into fine strips, often on a bias?

 Question: What classic thickening sauce is made with equal parts fat and flour?

TikTok Trend Trivia

If you’re looking for a way to engage younger friends in trivia fun, this just might be it. TikTok trends come and go with such rapidity that it’s easy to forget about them even just weeks after they were first popular. Refresh your memory with a quick scroll through your For You Page, and then get to TikTok trend trivia.

 Question: What British broadcaster and filmmaker gained popularity on TikTok in May 2022 for a remix of his jokey rap, “Jiggle Jiggle”?

 Question: What whipped beverage took TikTok by storm in early 2020?

Popular Memes Trivia

Like the previous theme, this one will appeal to those who call themselves “chronically online” or “Internet-addicted.” Choose your favorite memes of today or yesteryear and see if your friends can name them all.

 Question: What famous Tumblr post featured a hilarious story of a pizza order gone wrong?

 Question: This meme template features a stock photo of a white woman crying over a variety of small, mundane issues.

Who’s That Celebrity? Picture Round

If you want a visual round in your trivia game, a celebrity identification theme can be fun. Choose your favorite (or least favorite) celebs and see if your guests can guess their names from their headshots alone.

Question:

Question:

Question:

Name That Dish: International Food Trivia

By the time you write out descriptions of your favorite dishes from around the world, your mouth is sure to be watering! Alternatively, this is another potential picture round if you’re more interested in visual trivia—or you can make it an entire picture-based quiz.

 Question: What’s the name of a boat-shaped Turkish flatbread filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables?

 Question: What is the difference between a spring roll and an egg roll?

Nursery Rhyme Trivia

Jack and Jill went up the hill to… play a trivia game together? This can go beyond just nursery rhymes to include other childhood favorites like fables and fairytales.

 Question: What disaster served as the dark context for the classic nursery rhyme “Ring Around the Rosy”?

 Question: What is the name of a fabled young shepherdess who has lost her sheep?

Important Dates Throughout History Trivia

If you’re a nerd about dates, this is the theme for you. Call upon that photographic memory to conjure up a mental calendar and try your best to remember when these important events happened.

 Question: On what day did the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl occur?

 Question: What was the date on which the Treaty of Versailles was signed to officially end World War I?

Famous Books and Their Authors

This theme is best for proud bibliophiles who love nothing more than learning fun facts about their favorite authors. Include books and authors from many different eras and genres to add some variety to the round.

 Question: Which famous author won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988 for her novel Beloved?

 Question: Which Irish author of The Canterville Ghost was known for wearing a green carnation on his lapel as a subtle queer code?

Match the Royal to Their Era Trivia

 Question: During what era did Edward Stafford preside as the 3^rd Duke of Buckingham?

 Question: During which period did Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha serve as consort to the Queen?

Schitt’s Creek

Who hasn’t binge-watched Schitt’s Creek at this point And, by extension, who hasn’t laughed hysterically along with the Rose family time after time? Personally, I bawled during the series’ epic finale last year, and can’t stop coming back to rewatch.

Schitt’s Creek is a sitcom for the ages with some of the most hilarious and witty moments seen on the silver screen in recent years. Grab your (maybe dysfunctional) family and (maybe frumpy) friends to quiz them on this already classic show.

 Question: Who delivers the following iconic line: “Ew, David!”

 Question: What analogy does David Rose use to describe his pansexuality to a confused Stevie?

 Question: What’s the name of the a capella group Jocelyn leads?

Fifty Nifty United States Trivia

Add “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” to the music queue!

 Question: Which state has the worst air pollution levels year after year?

 Question: Which state has the best Pre-K-12 public school programming, as of 2021?

The Terrific Tens: 2010s Cultural Trivia

People are already referring to the 2010s as if they ended decades ago instead of less than three years ago (although, we concur, they do feel lightyears behind us at this point!). Test your knowledge of the trends of recent past with this quiz theme.

 Question: What was the biggest-selling single of 2012 that also topped Billboard’s Year End Hot 100?

 Question: What fleece-lined suede ankle boots hit their peak popularity during the 2010s?

The Awesome Aughts: 2000s Cultural Trivia

Y2K, anyone? Similar to the theme above, this one is for those who love to reminisce about not-so-bygone eras. For a fun twist, combine these decade-centric themes into one massive quiz about culture through the years.

 Question: What TV show genre, that included programs like Survivor, American Idol, and Jersey Shore, rose to popularity in the 2000s?

 Question: What was the most popular rise height of jeans in the early 2000s?

The Naughty Nineties: 1990s Cultural Trivia

JNCO jeans, the Spice Girls, Rugrats, and Friends—what *didn’t* the 90s have?

 Question: What was the federal minimum wage in 1992?

 Question: What was the top grossing movie of 1995?

The Electric Eighties: 1980s Cultural Trivia

This is the last of our decade-centered trivia themes, but there’s no need to stop here! If you’ve got sentimental value attached to the 70s, 60s, 50s, etc., don’t shy away from them! Better yet, tell your guests to dress like they’re in their favorite decade for added fun.

 Question: Which now actress-turned-activist is known for her workout VHS tapes, released throughout the 1980s?

 Question: What’s a trendy type of necklace often worn throughout the 1980s?

Pixar Trivia

Ah, Pixar—what started out as a somewhat risky Disney animation endeavor has gotten bigger than its creators could ever have envisioned by spawning numerous beloved franchises and churning out hit movie after hit. Quiz your friends on Pixar flicks from Toy Story in 1995 to Encanto and Turning Red today.

 Question: What’s the lowest rated Pixar flick according to Rotten Tomatoes, with only 39% on the Tomato Meter?

 Question: Which Pixar film features young sea monsters trying to masquerade as humans in an Italian village?

The Incredible Impressionists: Impressionism Trivia

If your guests want to dabble in art history, why not humor the group with some questions about Impressionist art? Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt…these artists and more have stayed relevant for so long for a reason—the simple beauty of their art evokes unusual facets of human experience. Turn this one into a picture round to see for yourself!

 Question: Approximately how many oil paintings of water lilies did Monet complete?

 Question: What was notable about the brush strokes used in Impressionist paintings?

Tricky Tech Trivia

Depending on whether or not your guests work in tech, you might want to amp up the difficulty of these quiz questions.

 Question: What does PC stand for?

 Question: What year was Firefox released to the public?

Funky Furniture Trivia

Ever been looking around your house at your furniture unsure of what to call a certain piece? (Too niche? Oops.) But seriously, a lot of pieces of furniture have funky names and origins. Look them up for yourself and see what wacky things you find out.

 Question: What’s a funny body part term used to describe the sides of a fireplace opening?

 Question: This ornate receptacle, also called a glory box or trousseau chest, was traditionally used to store items for a young woman’s dowry.

Modern Dance Trivia

Do you know your Martha Graham from your Merce Cunningham? If you want to add a twist to this quiz, consider asking players who answer incorrectly to improvise a quick modern dance phrase for the group—just for fun!

 Question: What clothing item of Isadora Duncan’s ended up inadvertently killing her?

 Question: Which modern dance pioneer is known for choreographing Esplanade and Company B?

Can You Cover My Brunch Shift? Restaurant Lingo Trivia

If you’re looking to humble friends who’ve never worked in the service industry, this is the trivia theme for you. Perhaps pregame your next brunch out with a restaurant lingo-themed quiz—it’ll remind everyone in the crowd to be nice to the staff and tip well!

 Question: What is a kitchen term used to signify to restaurant workers that a dish or menu item is out of stock?

 Question: What is another term for customer-facing employees, i.e. the hosts and hostesses, servers, and bartenders?

Viva Las Vegas! Sin City Trivia

Fancy a trip to good ol’ Vegas? Mm, I can almost hear the Elvis impersonators singing from here.

 Question: What was the first paved street in Las Vegas?

 Question: What small desert is Las Vegas located in the middle of?

The City of Love: Paris Trivia

Before flying to the city of love for the first time, you ought to do a little research—perhaps by way of themed trivia quiz?—to help ward away Paris Syndrome. (And if you don’t know what Paris Syndrome is, that’s a good quiz question to start with!)

 Question: Though only 1.25 miles of the tunnels are available to the public these days, Les Catacombes were originally much longer. Approximately how many miles do the tunnels of Les Catacombes span?

 Question: In which arrondissement is Le Marais located?

Marvelous Marvel Trivia

Trivia lovers, assemble! Dress up as your favorite Marvel superhero and let the trivia battle begin.

 Question: What fictional country does Black Panther take place in?

 Question: How many Infinity Stones are there?

Stranger Things Trivia

While we wait for Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2 to come out (July 1, people!), refresh your memory of Hawkins, Indiana and the gang with some themed trivia. Do you remember the differences between the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer? Or the name of Dustin’s deceased cat, lost to a demodog? With the Duffer Brothers at the helm of this hit series, you’ll never run out of Easter Eggs to use as trivia questions.

 Question: What product is the secret to Steve Harrington’s rockin’ mullet, as told to Dustin?

 Question: What’s the name of Joyce’s beloved Radio Shack manager boyfriend in Season 2?

Supersized Science Trivia

If you’d like your trivia quiz to take a more academic route, perhaps refresh your memory of biology and chemistry with some broad-sweeping science questions.

 Question: What percentage of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon Rainforest?

 Question: What element makes up the largest percentage of Earth’s atmosphere?

Weird Wild Animals Trivia

There’s always something new to learn about the great animal kingdom. What’s the weirdest wild animal fact you can think of?

 Question: What important organ can be found in a shrimp’s head?

 Question: Only three species of mammals go through menopause, including female humans and elephants. What’s the third species?

North American Trees Trivia

If you and your friends like to consider yourselves tree huggers, quiz each other on North American tree species. Consider taking this quiz outside for some real-world application, maybe while taking a nature walk or sitting under a tree at a park.

 Question: Which state labels the flowering dogwood as its state tree?

 Question: What is the official term for the “helicopters” or “whirligigs” that fall from maple trees?

Celestial Bodies: Trivia Throughout the Galaxy

Astronomy enthusiasts and casual watchers of Cosmos alike will enjoy this stellar trivia quiz theme.

 Question: When was Pluto demoted to a dwarf planet?

 Question: In degrees Fahrenheit, how hot can the moon get during lunar daytime?

Awards Show Trivia

There’s no better pregame for an awards show watch party than a themed trivia game! Quiz your friends on the big winners of yesteryear as you fill out your bracket for tonight’s show.

 Question: Which dynamo most recently became an EGOT winner at the 2022 Tony Awards?

 Question: Which role did Jessica Chastain win an Academy Award for?

Musical Theater Trivia

Ah, there’s nothing like a good showtune! For this theme, you can also draw upon Tony Awards-themed questions from the theme above.

 Question: How many times has Angela Lansbury hosted the Tony Awards?

 Question: Which musical provided Billy Porter with his breakout role?

Cartoons of Yesteryear Trivia

There’s nothing quite like the memory of sugary cereals and cartoons to bring some nostalgic charm to any party. This could be the theme for a single brief round, or you could have several rounds about specific cartoon shows, like Spongebob Squarepants and The Flintstones.

 Question: Which Flintstones-adjacent cartoon features a family living in the year 2062?

 Question: What are the names of Timmy Turner’s fairy godparents on The Fairly OddParents?

Natural Disaster Trivia

Feeling like depressing the hell out of your guests? There’s no better way to bring your friends back down to earth than by discussing the Earth’s demise—which, thanks to climate change, is coming much sooner than any of us would like. If you’re in the midst of an obscene heatwave, or you’re anticipating tornado season, you might as well get prepared by refreshing your memory about natural disasters!

 Question: When did Hurricane Sandy first hit New York City?

 Question: What is the nickname for the earthquake-prone region around the edges of the Pacific Ocean?

Surf Those Channels! Television Trivia

This theme is less about television shows or programming and more about the channels themselves. You can run the gamut from the basic news channels to the obscure music ones in the triple digits. If all players are from the same area, you can quiz them on local channel trivia, like specific newscasters and times of day that certain programs air.

 Question: What channel airs hit competition shows like Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay?

 Question: What network was formerly called ABC Family, despite often airing shows that weren’t so family-friendly?

Gym Rat Trivia

Last but not least, we’ve got trivia for those fitness fanatics out there. This would be a great round to play at an office party if you work at a gym or in another fitness-related setting. Or use this round at a New Year’s trivia party to challenge your friends to stick to their hastily made resolutions.

 Question: What machine provides a low-impact cardio alternative to running on a treadmill?

 Question: What’s the name of a sphere-shaped free weight with a single thick handle on top?

There you have it! Thanks for reading through all 52 of our trivia theme ideas you can use for your next game night. We hope they serve as good brain fodder while you’re compiling trivia questions and planning your event. For more trivia night inspo, check out this list of weird questions you can use!

Do you have a question idea for one of these themes? Or another theme idea you’d like us to feature? Let us know down in the comments below. Happy quizzing!