45 office holiday party ideas for every setting and budget
20 in-office, 15 virtual and 10 hybrid ideas, each with how to run it, group size and what you need. The hosted ones link straight to a bookable event with a live price.
A good office holiday party has one main activity that everyone can join without skill or alcohol, food that arrives on time, and a formal part short enough that nobody checks their phone. Start with the setting, then pick one idea below as the anchor and one or two small ones around it.
Ideas 1 to 6 and most of the virtual ones are events we host. The rest are written so an office manager can run them with a budget and an afternoon of prep.
In-office holiday party ideas
For a conference room, a cafeteria or a rented space. The first six are hosted games we bring to your office or venue; the rest you can run yourself with a budget and an organizer.
1. Feud night with a live host
A Family Feud-style game where tables play as teams and guess the most popular answers to surveyed questions. Every team answers every round on a phone, so nobody waits on the sidelines, and lower-ranked answers still score. Book it hosted: Feud Night (in person).
60 min · 20+ people · Hosted. You need: Tables and chairs, a TV or projector with HDMI, one phone per team.
2. Pub-style team trivia
Tables of five to eight debate answers and submit them on a phone while a host runs rounds of general knowledge, picture and music questions. Give a small trophy to the winning table and a prize for the best team name. Book it hosted: Team Trivia (in person).
60 min · 20+ people · Hosted. You need: Tables, a screen with HDMI, phones, a trophy.
3. Music bingo with a DJ
Bingo cards with song titles instead of numbers; a host plays clips and people mark what they recognize. It works for mixed ages because every decade gets a round, and the room sings along whether you plan it or not. Book it hosted: Music Bingo (in person).
60 min · 20+ people · Hosted. You need: A screen with HDMI, speakers or a room that carries sound, phones.
4. Speed trivia, everyone for themselves
A fast solo quiz played on phones: the quicker the right answer, the more points. It suits a standing reception better than table trivia because nobody has to form a team, and the live leaderboard does the trash talk for you. Book it hosted: Blitz-Speed Trivia (in person).
60 min · 20+ people · Hosted. You need: A screen with HDMI and phones.
5. Canvas painting party
An instructor walks the group through one painting, step by step, with all supplies brought in. Pick a winter scene and hang the results in the office until January. Good for teams that would rather chat than compete. Book it hosted: Canvas Painting (in person).
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Tables you don't mind getting a little paint on.
6. Paint your own holiday cards
Everyone paints and writes a set of watercolor greeting cards with a host's guidance. Ask people to address one card to a colleague in another department before they leave, and mail the rest to clients. Book it hosted: Watercolor Card Decorating (in person).
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Tables and a sink nearby.
7. White elephant with a steal limit
Everyone brings one wrapped gift under a fixed cap ($25 works). Draw numbers; each person opens a new gift or steals one already opened. A gift is frozen after its third steal, which keeps the game moving. Past 40 people, split into two circles.
30 to 45 min · 8 to 40 people · Low cost. You need: A price cap, numbered slips, one gift per person.
8. Secret Santa with a reveal
Draw names two weeks early, collect a short wish list from everyone, and do the reveal at the party: each person guesses their Santa before opening. A generator handles exclusions like managers and their own reports. Draw names free.
20 min at the party · 5 to 60 people · Low cost. You need: A name draw, a price cap, a wish-list form.
9. Ugly sweater contest with real categories
Skip the single winner. Run four categories (most lights, most handmade, most on-brand, best last-minute effort) and let people vote by sticker or QR poll. A short runway walk to music turns judging into a show.
20 min · 10+ people · Free. You need: Category signs, stickers or a poll, a playlist.
10. Cookie decorating station
Buy plain sugar cookies, three icing colors in squeeze bottles and sprinkles. Set up one table per eight people. People decorate two: one to eat and one for a judged table with a 'best in show' and a 'most abstract' prize.
45 min · 6 to 60 people · Low cost. You need: Plain cookies, icing bottles, sprinkles, paper plates.
11. Hot cocoa and coffee bar
A self-serve bar with cocoa, coffee and a dozen toppings: whipped cream, crushed candy canes, marshmallows, cinnamon, oat milk. Run it from 2pm to the end of the day so people drift in between meetings and talk to whoever is in line.
All afternoon · 5+ people · Low cost. You need: Two urns, toppings, cups, a sign with the time window.
12. Chili or soup cook-off
Six to ten volunteers bring a slow cooker; everyone else tastes and votes. Number the pots so voting stays blind and label allergens. Give the winner a ladle trophy that passes to next year's winner.
60 min lunch · 10 to 80 people · Free. You need: Volunteer cooks, extension cords, tasting cups, ballots.
13. Gingerbread build-off
Teams of four get the same store-bought gingerbread kit and a theme: build our office, build our product, build a famous landmark. Give 40 minutes, then a gallery walk and a vote. Remote colleagues can get the kit version shipped to them. Book it hosted: Gingerbread House Decorating.
45 to 60 min · 8 to 60 people · Low cost. You need: One kit per team, extra candy, paper tablecloths.
14. Door and desk decorating contest
Teams decorate their area for a week on a small shared budget, then a judging walk on party day. Categories beat a single winner: most festive, funniest, best use of office supplies.
1 week + 15 min judging · 10+ people · Low cost. You need: A per-team budget, judges, a clear end date.
15. Holiday photo wall
A backdrop, a ring light and a box of props (hats, signs, antlers). Put a phone on a tripod with a remote shutter and a QR code to a shared album. Those photos become next year's invitation.
Runs all party · 10+ people · Low cost. You need: A backdrop, a ring light, props, a shared album.
16. Minute-to-win-it tournament
Six one-minute challenges with cheap props: stack cups into a pyramid, move candy with a straw, unwrap a gift in oven mitts, toss ornaments into a bucket. Teams rotate stations and a scorekeeper posts totals on a whiteboard.
45 min · 10 to 60 people · Low cost. You need: Cups, straws, oven mitts, a timer, a whiteboard.
17. Lip sync battle
Teams sign up in advance with a holiday song and perform for 90 seconds with props. Audience applause or a QR poll picks the winner. Less pressure than karaoke because nobody actually sings alone.
30 to 45 min · 15 to 150 people · Free. You need: A speaker, a mic for the emcee, sign-ups a week ahead.
18. Office puzzle hunt
Hide ten clues around the building, each one a riddle about the company's year that leads to the next location. Teams of four race to the final clue, which leads to the dessert table.
45 min · 8 to 60 people · Free. You need: Ten written clues, an organizer, an hour to plant them.
19. Long lunch with year-end awards
Cater a proper lunch, then hand out ten light-hearted superlatives voted on by the team the week before, plus three real recognitions from leadership. Keep speeches under two minutes each. 40 award ideas.
90 min · 10 to 150 people · Low cost. You need: Catering, a nomination form, printed certificates.
20. Give-back build
Call a local shelter or food bank first and ask what they need, then set up an assembly line to pack care kits or write cards. Finish with food and a photo of the stack you are dropping off.
60 min · 10+ people · Low cost. You need: A partner charity's list, supplies, boxes, tables.
Want it hosted? We bring feud night, team trivia, music bingo and painting to your office or venue in 17 US cities, setup and cleanup included; you provide the room, the tables and a screen. See holiday parties in New York City or all in-person cities.
Virtual holiday party ideas
For fully remote teams on Zoom (or Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request). Hosted games need about 2 weeks' notice; kit workshops need 3 so the boxes arrive.
21. Festive Family Feud-style game show
Teams guess the most popular answers to holiday survey questions with a live host on Zoom. The fastest way to get a quiet remote team talking, because every answer is debatable and nobody needs to know anything. Book it hosted: Festive Family Feud.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A Zoom link and cameras on.
22. Christmas trivia party
Rounds on holiday movies, music and traditions, including picture clues, played in teams with a live host. Teams huddle in breakout rooms to agree on answers, which gets people talking who never share a meeting. Book it hosted: Christmas Trivia Party.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call and about 2 weeks' notice.
23. Christmas music bingo
Bingo with classic holiday hits instead of numbers. People mark songs as the host plays clips, and the chat fills up with lyrics. Low effort for attendees, high energy on screen. Book it hosted: Christmas Music Bingo Party.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call with good audio.
24. Elf escape challenge
A Christmas-themed puzzle game: riddles and festive challenges led by an elf character, solved in small teams against the clock. Good for teams that like to work something out together. Book it hosted: Elf Escape Challenge.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call and breakout rooms.
25. Murder mystery party
A winter murder mystery solved through games and puzzles, with no acting required. Teams collect clues round by round and name the culprit, weapon and location at the end. Book it hosted: Clue with a Twist: Winter Fun!.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call; costumes optional.
26. Gingerbread house kits
A gingerbread kit ships to every home and a host leads the build live. Ask people to bring a kid or a roommate; the cameras-on judging at the end is the best part. Book it hosted: Gingerbread House Decorating.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Home addresses at least 3 weeks out.
27. Holiday cocktail class
A mixologist teaches seasonal drinks live while everyone shakes along with a kit. Offer a zero-proof version so nobody sits out, and schedule it as the last event of the day. Book it hosted: Holiday-Themed Mixology.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Addresses 3 weeks out; check local rules on alcohol.
28. Hot chocolate bomb making
Everyone makes and tastes hot chocolate bombs, filled with cocoa, marshmallows and sprinkles, from a shipped kit. Family-friendly, alcohol-free, and a good fit for a morning or lunchtime slot. Book it hosted: Hot Chocolate Bomb.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Addresses at least 3 weeks out, a mug, hot milk or water.
29. Guided wine tasting
Three wines ship to each guest and a guide walks the group through them. It reads as a reward rather than a team-building exercise, which makes it a good pick for leadership or client-facing teams. Book it hosted: Wine Tasting.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: Addresses 3 weeks out; guests must be of legal drinking age.
30. Live virtual magic show
A professional magician performs sleight of hand on camera and pulls guests into the tricks. Pure entertainment with zero prep for attendees, which is exactly what some teams want in December. Book it hosted: The Actual Virtual Magic Show.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call; nothing for guests to prepare.
31. Christmas cracker comedy workshop
Teams learn to write their own Christmas cracker jokes, then share the best (and worst) ones. Quietly brilliant for building confidence, and you leave with a list of in-jokes for the rest of the year. Book it hosted: Christmas Comedy Workshop.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call and a willingness to groan.
32. Inclusive winter games
A seasonal mix of games with no specific holiday at its center, for global teams or anyone who would rather not make the party about Christmas. Pair it with a 'favorite winter tradition' share in the first five minutes. More inclusive ideas. Book it hosted: Holiday Fun & Games or Winter Music Bingo Party.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call.
33. Virtual white elephant
Each person picks an e-gift card or ships a gift to the organizer to screen-share. Draw numbers in a random picker; people 'open' a gift by revealing it on screen, or steal one by typing STEAL in chat. Freeze a gift after two steals.
30 to 45 min · 6 to 30 people · Low cost. You need: A random number picker, e-gift cards or shipped gifts.
34. Ugly sweater parade on camera
Switch to gallery view, play music, and let each person give a ten-second sweater tour. Vote in a poll for best homemade and best pet cameo. Use it as the opener before a hosted game, not as the whole party.
15 min · 5 to 100 people · Free. You need: A poll and a playlist.
35. Cozy game show night
Classic game-show-style rounds in a warm, cabin-themed setting with a friendly host, and teams that switch between rounds so people meet new colleagues. Tell everyone to bring a blanket and a warm drink. Book it hosted: Comfy Cozy Game Shows!.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A video call and pajamas encouraged.
Remote team? Game shows, trivia, escape games and kit workshops, with live prices, are all on the virtual holiday party page. Or get a free quote with your date and headcount, and you get a plan back within 24 hours.
Hybrid holiday party ideas
For teams split between an office and home. The rule that matters: give remote people the same activity, not a livestream of other people's fun.
36. Same kit, every address
Ship the same workshop kit to the office for the in-person group and to each remote person's home, then run one live session with the room on a big screen. Continental US shipping is included; other regions are an add-on. Book it hosted: Wreath Making or Cookie Decorating.
60 min · 10+ people · Hosted. You need: A room camera and mic, addresses at least 3 weeks out.
37. Room teams vs remote teams trivia
Each office table plays as one team on its own laptop; remote people form their own teams in breakout rooms. Everyone joins the same video call, so the host and scoreboard are shared, and the office-vs-home rivalry does the rest. Tell us it's hybrid when you book. Book it hosted: Winter Showdown!.
60 min · 15+ people · Hosted. You need: One laptop per office table, a good room mic.
38. Choose-your-own-activity party
Run several activities at once and let every employee pick one: a cooking class, a craft, a game show, a tasting. It solves the 'what does everyone like?' problem for big companies and spreads people across smaller, chattier groups. How multi-event programs work.
60 min · 100+ people · Hosted. You need: A sign-up form 4 weeks ahead and one point of contact.
39. Gift exchange that ships
Draw Secret Santa names online, cap the spend, and ship gifts straight to each person's home. Open them together on the party call so office and remote people react at the same moment. Secret Santa generator.
15 min at the party · 5 to 80 people · Low cost. You need: A name draw, home addresses, a shipping deadline.
40. Year-in-review slideshow trivia
Build 20 slides of photos, launches and odd moments from the year, then turn them into quiz questions ('Which month did the coffee machine break?'). Run it on a free quiz tool so office and remote players answer on phones.
30 min · 10+ people · Free. You need: A photo dump from the team, a quiz tool, prizes.
41. Five-day photo challenge
Post one prompt a day in the team channel the week before the party: your holiday mug, your view right now, your worst decoration, a pet in a hat. Reveal the most-reacted photo of each day at the party.
5 min a day · 10+ people · Free. You need: A team chat channel and five prompts.
42. Toast and awards, streamed properly
Keep the formal part short: one leader toast, five awards, and remote winners named first so they aren't an afterthought. Use a dedicated room mic, not a laptop across the room, and mail remote winners their prize the same day.
20 min · 20+ people · Low cost. You need: A room mic, a camera on the speaker, prizes ready to ship.
43. Holiday spirit week
Five themed days that build to the party: sweater Monday, mug Tuesday, a cookie swap Wednesday, a virtual game Thursday, party Friday. Each day works in the office and on camera.
A week · 10+ people · Free. You need: A calendar post and one owner per day.
44. Holiday gift boxes for everyone
Send a curated gift box to every employee's home with a handwritten note from their manager. It is the one holiday gesture that reaches everyone equally, including people who can't make the party. Holiday gift ideas.
No event time · 5+ people · Hosted. You need: Addresses, a budget, 4 to 6 weeks for 100+ boxes or custom branding.
45. Charity match challenge
Teams pick a charity and raise what they can over two weeks; the company matches up to a set amount. Show a running total on a shared slide and announce the final number at the party.
2 weeks + 10 min · 10+ people · Low cost. You need: A matching budget, a donation link, a tracker slide.
Two hybrid-friendly picks: a trivia game where office tables play remote teams, and a kit that ships to the office and to every home.
Holiday party planning timeline
Work back from the date. These lead times are the ones that catch people out in December.
- 8 weeks out: set the date, budget and format. Decide office, virtual or hybrid first; it drives everything else. December Thursdays go first.
- 6 weeks out: book the main activity. Hold the date with a hosted game or workshop, and the venue if you are going out.
- 4 weeks out: lock anything custom. Branded games, custom trivia questions and company themes need about 4 weeks.
- 3 weeks out: collect home addresses. Kit workshops ship to each person, so remote guests need to share an address by now (3 to 4 weeks for international).
- 2 weeks out: last call for hosted games. Most hosted games book 2 weeks ahead. Sooner can work; ask.
- 1 week out: send the run of show. Time, link or room, dress code and what to bring, in one short message.
Need a theme to tie it together? See 30 holiday party themes for work, 35 holiday party games for the activity itself, end-of-year celebration ideas for the awards, and holiday gifts for employees for everyone who can’t make it.
