40 and fabulous: 40^th birthday ideas for a memorable milestone.

Whether you are planning your own 40th birthday party or you‘re setting up a surprise party for someone else hitting the big 4-0, you’ve come to the right place to get great ideas for everything 40th birthday-related.

We’ve got you covered with 40 amazing 40th birthday ideas, including everything from activities and decorations to gift ideas and wishes for birthday cards.

Continue reading to discover some fun and unique 40th birthday ideas with Adobe Express.

Gifts galore: 40th birthday gift ideas.

A 40th birthday celebration is traditionally known as the ruby jubilee. Accordingly, a traditional 40th birthday gift would be rubies or jewellery with rubies. If you‘re looking for a more innovative and fun gift for your loved one turning 40, we have 10 ideas that will make your gift unforgettable.

Birthday Gift Idea #1: Newspaper from the past.

What happened 40 years ago? For this 40th birthday gift idea, search for news articles and key events that occurred on your loved one’s exact birthday. Find four to five newsworthy and positive things and put them together in a newspaper. With the help of Adobe Express you can find the right design and personalise a newspaper for that date’s most important event – the birth of your loved one. Of course, it’s the leading headline of the day!

Birthday Gift Idea #2: Recap of 40 years.

The celebrant is sure to appreciate a photo collage of some of their best bits thus far. Source pictures from family members and friends to ensure you cover all aspects of their 40 years and see if you can get some copies from their family photo album. Mix them with pictures you’ve taken yourself and you’ll have all you need to create the perfect collage that recaps the last four decades. Remember to leave some room at the end of your collage or photo album for the next 40 years!

Birthday Gift Idea #3: Retro Gaming Night.

Remember when you were a child and spent your weekends together with your friends and played the best games and consoles? Ah, the good ol’ days! It was plenty of fun and time just flew by. Imagine playing those games once again with your best friend turning 40 this year. With this 40th birthday gift, you could give your friend a chance to let out their inner child and encourage some group bonding for the special occasion. Find your friend’s favourite console plus their favourite games. You could even order them online and get them delivered for added convenience.

Birthday Gift Idea #4: Bucket List Bucket.

Does the celebrant have a bucket list? If so, raising money for them and the activities on their bucket list can be a great 40th birthday gift idea. Why not present the money in a bucket for the birthday person’s bucket list fund (pun intended!). While the person might first wonder why you gave them a bucket for their 40th birthday, it’ll all make sense when they see the money in it – perhaps you could add a sign saying, "Bucket List Bucket".

Birthday Gift Idea #5: Weekend Getaway.

Surprise your loved one with a special weekend trip away as a 40th birthday gift. Book a room in a luxury hotel or choose a sports activity that you’ve always wanted to try together. Enjoy spending time together catching up, eating nice food, and making new memories.

Birthday Gift Idea #6: Spa Day.

Give your loved one the gift of true relaxation for their 40^th birthday with a spa day. Treat them to a professional massage and let them enjoy a dip in the pool or jacuzzi for some much-needed rejuvenation. Many spas also have saunas and steam rooms to help you achieve ultimate zen. You could even make a spa experience at-home and create your own spa gift voucher to surprise them with.

Birthday Gift Idea #7: Group Dinner.

What’s better than good food and great company? Whether the celebrant is a foodie or not, they’re bound to enjoy a group meal at their favourite restaurant with all their favourite people. Be sure to book in advance if you’re planning for a large group to avoid disappointment. Or opt for hosting at home, with bespoke menus and invitations created on Adobe Express.

Birthday Gift Idea #8: Theatre Tickets.

A theatre trip is always fun, no matter how old you are. Check the local listings to see if any good shows are planned on your loved one’s actual birth date or take them out of town to view one of their favourites if you think they’d enjoy a road trip, too.

Birthday Gift Idea #9: Sky Dive.

Is the celebrant a bit of a thrill-seeker? A sky dive is one of the most exciting ways for them to enter into this new decade. Surprise them with this adrenaline-boosting 40^th birthday gift and you could even do it with them to offer some extra support.

Birthday Gift Idea #10: Personalised hamper.

Hampers can be a great way to combine all of your loved one’s favourite things into one gift. Simply pick one or two main presents to sit at the centre, then surround them with their favourite snacks, drinks and accessories. You could even throw in a couple of personalised items, like a custom 40th birthday mug or t-shirt. Place in a basket or bag and add a bow – then you’ve got the perfect 40^th birthday gift.

Discover templates for birthday photo collages.

How to make the most of these 40th birthday ideas.

40th birthday party ideas.

A 40^th birthday party is one of the best ways to celebrate someone entering into this exciting new decade. There are plenty of themes available for you to go with, just aim to incorporate the celebrant’s personality into whichever option you choose.

Here are some fun 40^th birthday party ideas:

Birthday Party Idea #1: Surprise Party.

Plan a secret soirée for your loved one and surprise them on their birthday with all their friends and family. A 40^th birthday is a huge milestone, so surprise parties tend to be common – they’re a great way to get everyone together to celebrate. Decorate the location with banners, posters and more.

Birthday Party Idea #2: Different Decade Party.

Throw a 40^th birthday party and encourage attendees to dress in the style of their favourite decade. From the swinging ‘60s to the new millennium, this is an exciting theme that lets everyone show off their creativity. You could even take it a step further and dress up as the celebrant themselves through the past four decades.

Birthday Party Idea #3: Birth-year Party.

Celebrate the birth year of the person turning 40 and everything that happened in it. From major events to popular celebrities, there’ll be lots of ideas and inspiration people can choose from for this type of 40^th birthday party.

Birthday Party Idea #4: Favourite Film Party.

Is the celebrant a film fanatic? If so, a film party could be the perfect 40^th birthday party idea. Whether it’s Harry Potter, Pulp Fiction or Star Wars, a film party is sure to keep everyone beaming throughout the night. You could go for the birthday person’s favourite film, or let everyone choose their own – either way, you’re bound to have a great time,

Birthday Party Idea #5: Hero Party.

Who’s the celebrant’s hero? This could be a historical figure, a favourite actor or a much-loved music artist. Create a theme around this and dress up as the hero for a 40^th birthday, encouraging everyone to incorporate some of their most famous looks to date.

Birthday Party Idea #6: Festival-themed Party.

Grab your glow sticks and get ready for a good time with a festival themed 40^th birthday party. A great idea for anyone turning 40 in the summer, you could throw a party in the sun and enjoy a BBQ and some festival tunes with close friends and family.

Birthday Party Idea #7: Masquerade ball.

Looking for something a little more extravagant and sophisticated? A 40^th birthday masquerade ball gives everyone a chance to dress to impress with elegant gowns and masks. Celebrate turning 40 in style and send out some themed invitations to match the mystique of the ball.

Birthday Party Idea #8: Karaoke Party.

Sing your heart out to some of your favourite tunes with a fun karaoke-inspired 40^th birthday party. From Madonna to Beyonce, take everyone through the past 40 years with a joyful singalong. Don’t forget to sing happy birthday!

Birthday Party Idea #9: Party bus.

Celebrate on the move and travel in style with a 40^th birthday party bus. Pop some bubbly, sing along to popular songs and play games like charades to keep yourselves laughing and well-entertained throughout your journey.

Birthday Party Idea #10: Ruby Jubilee.

Throw a royal Ruby Jubilee 40^th birthday party with lavish decorations, fashion and delectable delights. This a 40^th birthday party idea that’s sure to impress all guests and the celebrant will surely appreciate being treated like a king or queen for their special day.

Cheers to forty: 40th birthday cards.

Of course, you could always go into town and buy a 40^th birthday card for your loved one. But how about creating a 40th birthday card yourself? You get ample opportunity to design it in a style that suit’s your friend’s personality, with photos of them and their favourite things – whether that be a place, film or type of food. If you need some inspiration, here are five ideas for wonderful 40th birthday card designs:

40th Birthday Card Idea #1: Classic.

Choose a picture of colourful balloons or a birthday cake for your loved one’s 40th birthday card. This is a classic version you can use if you want to keep things simple or don’t know the recipient too well.

40th Birthday Card Idea #2: Minimalist.

A minimalistic yet modern 40th birthday card is perfect for a mature celebrant. Choose a simple background colour and an elegant font for your design.

40th Birthday Card Idea #3: Funny.

For a guaranteed laugh – look for a funny photo of the recipient and choose a funny headline such as "This person is turning 40 today. Unbelievable!"

40th Birthday Card Idea #4: Caricature.

If you are a talented artist, you can draw a caricature of the recipient, highlighting specific facial features. If not, you can use the AI Image Generator to help you get started. Simply type in your prompt, and Adobe Firefly’s generative AI tool will do the rest.

40th Birthday Card Idea #5: The past vs. now.

Choose a photo from the recipient’s childhood and put a current photo next to it. Maybe you can even find two pictures in which the person has a similar pose. This will make the comparison even better!

With Adobe Express, you can choose from a wide variety of professionally designed templates for 40th birthday cards or you can start a design from scratch. Upload photos from your computer or smartphone and add a personal message and wishes for your loved one. When you’re happy with your finished 40th birthday card design, just download and print it or send it digitally to your loved one.

Discover templates for 40th birthday cards.

Wishes for four decades: 40th birthday wishes.

Have you finished designing your 40th birthday card but still looking for the right message? We have compiled some light-hearted 40th birthday wishes you can use to wish someone a happy birthday. Some are funny – for people you know well – while others can be used for colleagues or neighbours you might know less well.

Celebrating in style: 40th birthday decorations.

Set the right tone for a 40th birthday party with amazing decorations. Whether you want to decorate your own birthday party location or you’re surprising someone on their special day, decorations help make this event an unforgettable celebration! Here are five ideas for 40^th birthday decorations:

40th Birthday Decorations Idea #1: Piñata.

Fill a piñata with the favourite sweets and chocolates of the celebrating person. Beating it until it breaks, and all sweets come "raining" down will make them feel like they’re a child again.

40th Birthday Decorations Idea #2: Photo story.

Ask close friends and family members for photos from the special person’s childhood and youth. Find a place where you can hang them and let them tell the story on their own.

40th Birthday Decorations Idea #3: 40 balloons for 40 years.

Take 40 balloons for each birthday year in beautiful colours like pastel and gold. Put them together in a big 40. This is a perfect background for a photo with your birthday guests.

40th Birthday Decorations Idea #4: Garden games.

If you want to decorate outside in your garden, entertain your guests with some classical garden games like boccia or ring toss. This is a perfect opportunity for all guests to join in for short games and small talk if they don’t know each other well.

40th Birthday Decorations Idea #5: Picnic.

Another great idea for celebrating outside in a garden is a picnic. Put some blankets on the soft grass and prepare some delicious snacks like fresh fruit, cookies, and sandwiches. You can also combine this 40th birthday decoration idea with some garden games, too!

Discover templates for 40th birthday invitations.