Holiday party statistics (2026): 33 survey findings, with sources
The newest published numbers on company holiday parties, each linked to the survey that measured it. Checked October 2026.
About two in three U.S. companies hold a holiday party: 64% planned one in 2024, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, and 82% of employees planned to attend in 2025, according to ezCater. More of those parties now happen during the workday, and fewer serve alcohol. Below are 33 findings from Challenger, The Harris Poll and ezCater, grouped by the questions planners ask. Planning this year’s party? KraftyLab runs virtual holiday parties with a live host, kit workshops that ship supplies to every guest, and in-person parties in US cities.
How many companies have holiday parties?
About two in three companies hold one, close to the level before 2020.
64% of companies planned a holiday celebration in 2024, matching the 2023 figure.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2024 Holiday Party Survey Report (2024)6% of companies said they never hold holiday parties in 2024, down from 8% the year before.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2024 Holiday Party Survey Report (2024)64.4% of companies were holding in-person holiday parties in 2023, the highest share since 2019, when 75% held parties.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report (2023)5.3% of companies held in-person holiday parties in 2020; that rose to 26.6% in 2021 and 56.9% in 2022.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Holiday Parties Are Back in 2022! But Not Quite at Pre-Pandemic Levels (2022)48% of U.S. workers say their workplace holds a regular annual holiday party in person; 26% say it holds none, in person or virtual.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)
| Year and measure | Companies |
|---|---|
| 2018, holding a year-end celebration | 65% |
| 2019, held a party | 75% |
| 2021, in-person party | 27% |
| 2022, in-person party | 57% |
| 2023, in-person party | 64.4% |
Virtual vs in-person holiday party statistics
Virtual parties shrank after 2020 but kept a steady share, and remote teams still count on them.
4.5% of companies reported a virtual holiday event in 2024, up from 3.9% in 2023.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2024 Holiday Party Survey Report (2024)17% of companies held virtual holiday events in 2020, falling to 7% in 2021 and nearly 2% in 2022.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Holiday Parties Are Back in 2022! But Not Quite at Pre-Pandemic Levels (2022)9% of U.S. workers say their annual holiday party is held virtually, and 18% say it is in person or virtual depending on the year.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)19% of workers would like hybrid holiday events, with in-person and virtual guests together, at their workplace.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)80% of employees say holiday parties are more important than ever for building team connections, given hybrid and remote work.
ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2025)
Mixed teams can run both at once; see our hybrid holiday party ideas.
Holiday party budget statistics
Budgets went up for many companies and down for some, depending on the year's results.
$59 per person is the average food and beverage spend at workplace holiday parties in 2025, with those budgets up 31% year over year.
ezCater, The workplace holiday party is back, fueled by food (2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report) (2025)51% of businesses were increasing their holiday party budgets in 2025.
ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2025)43% of decision-makers expected to spend more on the 2024 holiday party than on the year before.
ezCater, Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2024)17% of companies planned to reduce holiday party spending in 2024, up from 8% in 2023.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2024 Holiday Party Survey Report (2024)33% of companies spent more on their holiday celebration in 2023, and 70% of those raised it by under 10%.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report (2023)9 in 10 workplace party planners say holiday party planning is stressful.
ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2025)
Food is only one line. Our holiday party cost per person guide adds the activity, venue and gifts by party type.
When companies hold the party
The party has moved into the workday.
58% of companies planned to celebrate during the workday in 2023, up from 48% in 2022.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report (2023)32% of companies planned to hold the 2023 party on company premises, up from 28% in 2022.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report (2023)53% of employees want the holiday party held during the workday, and 62% prefer a casual dress code.
ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2025)52% of workers with a company party say the date and time would sway their decision to attend, the top factor; food and drink came next at 51%.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)
What employees want from a holiday party
Workers like the party, want it relaxed, and want something to do.
82% of employees planned to attend their company's 2025 holiday celebration, up from 70% attendance reported the year before.
ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report (2025)74% of workers whose company holds a party say they look forward to it every year.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)85% of those workers say holiday parties are a great opportunity to bond with colleagues.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)46% of workers want themed parties with interactive elements such as escape rooms or games; 35% want creative activities like crafting.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)86% of workers with a company party rate the quality of food and drinks as important, ahead of entertainment and activities at 80%.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)20% of workers with a company party would make it more relaxed and informal if they could change one thing, the top answer.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)46% of workers whose company holds a party feel pressured to attend, including 54% of Gen Z workers.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)79% of workers would prefer a monetary bonus rather than a company holiday party, and 71% would prefer more time off.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)
Alcohol at office holiday parties
Fewer companies served it in 2023 than in 2022, and most guests keep it light when it is there.
Nearly 57% of companies planned to serve alcohol at the 2023 party, down from 63% in 2022.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report (2023)82% of party planners are comfortable serving alcohol at the 2025 holiday party.
ezCater, The workplace holiday party is back, fueled by food (2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report) (2025)87% of employees say they avoid drinking too much at workplace holiday parties.
ezCater, The workplace holiday party is back, fueled by food (2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report) (2025)37% of workers would rather alcohol be limited (23%) or not served at all (14%) at the holiday party, while 33% enjoy it.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)31% of workers whose company holds a party say they have regretted their behavior at a company holiday party.
The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties (2024)
What the numbers mean for this year's party
Five choices the surveys point to, whatever your budget.
- Hold it during the workday. Most companies already do, and most employees prefer it. It also helps anyone with a commute or kids at home.
- Put the food first. Food quality tops what workers rate as important, so spend there before decor.
- Give people something to do together. Interactive formats like games and escape rooms were the top new idea workers asked for, and an activity takes the pressure off small talk.
- Make drinks optional, not the point. Over a third of workers would limit alcohol or skip it, so offer good alcohol-free drinks and say so in the invitation.
- Include the people who aren't in the office. Run a virtual session for remote staff or one virtual party for everyone, so the party isn't only for whoever sits nearby.
A hosted activity covers the middle three at once. KraftyLab’s virtual holiday parties are live games and kit workshops for remote and hybrid teams, about 60 minutes with a live host on Zoom by default (Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request). For the office, book an in-person party in cities such as New York City and Chicago, or see every city. Hosted games book about 2 weeks ahead and kit workshops about 3 weeks ahead (about 5 with guests in Canada or abroad), and December dates fill first.
Three holiday sessions, with today’s price.
Once the date is set, our holiday party invitation wording has the emails and posts to announce it. Send your date and headcount and get a free quote; we reply within 24 hours.
How to cite these holiday party numbers
- Name the publisher and the year, and link the publisher's page, not a roundup.
- Keep the population: Challenger asks companies, Harris asks workers, and ezCater asks both employees and party planners.
- Say "planned" for Challenger and ezCater figures; both survey before the season ends.
- Check for a newer edition; Challenger and ezCater usually publish in November or December.
Sources and how each survey was run
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas: Online surveys of HR and business leaders at U.S. companies: 173 in November and December 2024, 202 in November 2023, 252 in October and November 2022. Challenger has tracked holiday party plans since 2004.
- The Harris Poll: Online survey of 1,238 U.S. employed adults, November 21 to 23, 2024. Questions about the party went to the 911 whose company holds one.
- ezCater: 1,002 full-time employees and 603 party decision-makers in June 2025; 1,007 employees and 608 decision-makers in August 2024.
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2024 Holiday Party Survey Report, 2024. www.challengergray.com/blog/2024-rate-of-parties-on-par-with-2023-but-with-lower-budgets-companies-optimistic-on-hiring-business-conditions-heading-into-new-year/
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2023 Holiday Party Survey Report, 2023. www.challengergray.com/blog/2023-holiday-party-survey-report-companies-are-partying-like-its-2018-highest-level-of-companies-planning-parties-post-pandemic-but-caution-remains/
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Holiday Parties Are Back in 2022! But Not Quite at Pre-Pandemic Levels, 2022. www.challengergray.com/blog/holiday-parties-are-back-in-2022-but-not-quite-at-pre-pandemic-levels/
- The Harris Poll, State of Work Holiday Parties, 2024. theharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/State-of-Work-Holiday-Parties-December-2024.pdf
- ezCater, 2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report, 2025. ezcater.com/company/press-release/the-workplace-holiday-party-is-back-ezcater-report-reveals-increase-in-rsvps-and-budgets
- ezCater, The workplace holiday party is back, fueled by food (2025 Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report), 2025. ezcater.com/lunchrush/office/7-workplace-holiday-party-trends-to-watch/
- ezCater, Workplace Holiday Party Trends Report, 2024. ezcater.com/company/press-release/ezcater-unwraps-2024s-workplace-holiday-party-trends
