diff --git a/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/standaloneCodeEditor.ts b/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/standaloneCodeEditor.ts
index 7f1e39821e73..504f3d2356fe 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/standaloneCodeEditor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/standaloneCodeEditor.ts
@@ -124,6 +124,13 @@ export interface IGlobalEditorOptions {
 	 * Defaults to 20000.
 	 */
 	maxTokenizationLineLength?: number;
+	/**
+	 * Theme to be used for rendering.
+	 * The current out-of-the-box available themes are: 'vs' (default), 'vs-dark', 'hc-black'.
+	 * You can create custom themes via `monaco.editor.defineTheme`.
+	 * To switch a theme, use `monaco.editor.setTheme`
+	 */
+	theme?: string;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -334,6 +341,7 @@ export class StandaloneEditor extends StandaloneCodeEditor implements IStandalon
 
 	private readonly _contextViewService: ContextViewService;
 	private readonly _configurationService: IConfigurationService;
+	private readonly _standaloneThemeService: IStandaloneThemeService;
 	private _ownsModel: boolean;
 
 	constructor(
@@ -363,6 +371,7 @@ export class StandaloneEditor extends StandaloneCodeEditor implements IStandalon
 
 		this._contextViewService = <ContextViewService>contextViewService;
 		this._configurationService = configurationService;
+		this._standaloneThemeService = themeService;
 		this._register(toDispose);
 		this._register(themeDomRegistration);
 
@@ -391,6 +400,9 @@ export class StandaloneEditor extends StandaloneCodeEditor implements IStandalon
 
 	public updateOptions(newOptions: IEditorOptions & IGlobalEditorOptions): void {
 		applyConfigurationValues(this._configurationService, newOptions, false);
+		if (typeof newOptions.theme === 'string') {
+			this._standaloneThemeService.setTheme(newOptions.theme);
+		}
 		super.updateOptions(newOptions);
 	}
 
@@ -414,6 +426,7 @@ export class StandaloneDiffEditor extends DiffEditorWidget implements IStandalon
 
 	private readonly _contextViewService: ContextViewService;
 	private readonly _configurationService: IConfigurationService;
+	private readonly _standaloneThemeService: IStandaloneThemeService;
 
 	constructor(
 		domElement: HTMLElement,
@@ -443,6 +456,7 @@ export class StandaloneDiffEditor extends DiffEditorWidget implements IStandalon
 
 		this._contextViewService = <ContextViewService>contextViewService;
 		this._configurationService = configurationService;
+		this._standaloneThemeService = themeService;
 
 		this._register(toDispose);
 		this._register(themeDomRegistration);
@@ -454,8 +468,11 @@ export class StandaloneDiffEditor extends DiffEditorWidget implements IStandalon
 		super.dispose();
 	}
 
-	public updateOptions(newOptions: IDiffEditorOptions): void {
+	public updateOptions(newOptions: IDiffEditorOptions & IGlobalEditorOptions): void {
 		applyConfigurationValues(this._configurationService, newOptions, true);
+		if (typeof newOptions.theme === 'string') {
+			this._standaloneThemeService.setTheme(newOptions.theme);
+		}
 		super.updateOptions(newOptions);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/vs/monaco.d.ts b/src/vs/monaco.d.ts
index 73a615757dc4..ccd369acc0dd 100644
--- a/src/vs/monaco.d.ts
+++ b/src/vs/monaco.d.ts
@@ -1108,6 +1108,13 @@ declare namespace monaco.editor {
 		 * Defaults to 20000.
 		 */
 		maxTokenizationLineLength?: number;
+		/**
+		 * Theme to be used for rendering.
+		 * The current out-of-the-box available themes are: 'vs' (default), 'vs-dark', 'hc-black'.
+		 * You can create custom themes via `monaco.editor.defineTheme`.
+		 * To switch a theme, use `monaco.editor.setTheme`
+		 */
+		theme?: string;
 	}
 
 	/**