35 Virtual Event Ideas for Companies (That People Actually Join)
Games, kit workshops, social events, speakers, wellness and holiday ideas for remote and hybrid teams. Plus how to run one well and how to pick a virtual event company.
A good virtual event is not a longer meeting. It has one activity, a host who keeps it moving, small teams so everyone talks, and an hour or less on camera. Every idea below fits that rule, and the hosted ones link to a bookable event with a live price.
Hosted games and competitions
The safest bet for any team: a live host, small breakout teams and a scoreboard. Nobody has to prepare anything.
1. Family Feud-style game show
Teams race to match the top survey answers, and everyone plays at once instead of waiting for a turn. It's loud, fast and works for every age and role. Virtual game shows. Book it hosted: Your Favorite Game Shows! or Fun-Filled Feud.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
2. Live trivia
Rounds of quick-thinking questions played in breakout teams, with a host keeping score. Ask for a round about your own company to make it personal. Virtual trivia. Book it hosted: Trivia with a Twist! or Quiz Showdown!.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
3. Virtual escape room
Small teams solve puzzles and mini-games to escape, with a guide keeping the story moving. Great for teams that like a challenge more than a party. Virtual escape rooms. Book it hosted: Beach Vacate-tion Escape Room.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
4. Murder mystery
Everyone plays detective, working through clues in breakout teams to find the weapon, the room and the culprit. The final reveal always gets a reaction. Virtual murder mysteries. Book it hosted: Clue with a Twist: Winter Fun! or Murder Mystery Escape Room - The Psychiatrist.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
5. Music bingo
A host plays song clips, players mark cards, and the chat turns into a sing-along. Our Music Bingo runs on Zoom only. Virtual bingo. Book it hosted: Music Bingo or Musical Bingo.
Hosted live · 45 to 60 minutes
6. At-home scavenger hunt
Teams complete quick challenges using whatever is within reach and show the results on camera. Pets and kids tend to join in. Virtual scavenger hunts. Book it hosted: Scavenger Hunt with a Twist!.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
7. Office olympics
A host leads three olympic-style challenges, from creative to quick-thinking, with medals at the end. Competitive without needing any trivia knowledge. Office olympics. Book it hosted: Office Olympics.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
8. Live magic show
A professional magician performs sleight of hand and mind reading on screen and pulls guests into the act. It works well for big groups and client audiences. Virtual magic shows. Book it hosted: The Actual Virtual Magic Show or Illusionist.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
Two crowd favorites, with live prices. Each is an hour with a live host. See all virtual events.
Kit workshops shipped to every home
A box arrives at each person's door, and everyone makes the same thing on camera with a live instructor. It's the closest a remote team gets to a room together.
9. Cookie decorating
Cookies, icing and tools arrive at each home, and an instructor teaches piping techniques step by step. Everyone ends with a plate to show off. Book it hosted: Cookie Decorating.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
10. Candle making
Pour and scent a candle together while the instructor explains wax, wicks and fragrance. Calm enough to talk the whole time. Book it hosted: Candle Making.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
11. Paint night
Canvas, paints and brushes ship to each person, and an artist guides the same painting step by step. No talent needed, and the gallery at the end is the best part. Virtual paint night. Book it hosted: Painting.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
12. Mixology class
A bartender teaches two or three cocktails with a kit sent to every home. Non-alcoholic kits are available. Virtual mixology. Book it hosted: Mixology Cocktail Trio or Mixology Cocktail Duo.
Kit ships · 45 to 60 minutes
13. Wine tasting
A host walks the team through a flight of wines shipped ahead, with tasting notes and food pairings. A good fit for client events too. Virtual wine tasting. Book it hosted: Wine Tasting.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
14. Terrarium making
Build a glass globe terrarium with two live air plants and decorations from the kit, and learn how to keep them alive. People keep it on their desk for months. Book it hosted: Terrarium Making.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
15. Bubble tea or hot chocolate bombs
A sweet, easy workshop that suits teams who don't drink. Kits include everything, so nobody has to shop. All team building kits. Book it hosted: Bubble Tea Making or Hot Chocolate Bomb.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
Book kit workshops 3 weeks ahead so every box arrives in time. Continental US shipping is included.
Social and networking events
Lower energy, more conversation. Good for new teams and for the weeks between bigger events.
16. Speed networking
After a short hosted intro, a networking platform matches people into private three-minute one-on-ones, round after round. Ideal after a reorg or a hiring wave. Book it hosted: Speed Networking.
Hosted live · 45 minutes
17. Virtual team lunch
Send everyone a meal stipend and spend lunch on camera with one light game or a topic of the week. Keep it under 45 minutes. Virtual lunch ideas.
DIY · 45 minutes
18. Improv session
Exercises built on "yes, and" that train listening, storytelling and thinking on your feet. It's the most laughing you'll hear in a work meeting. Book it hosted: Improv.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
19. Show and tell challenge
Teams race the clock to find meaningful items, then share the stories behind them. You learn more about colleagues in an hour than in a year of standups. Book it hosted: Team Discovery Challenge.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
20. Chat games between events
A daily question, an emoji quiz or a photo challenge in Slack or Teams keeps people talking between bigger events. It costs nothing. Games to play over text.
DIY · 5 minutes a day
Learning sessions and expert speakers
An hour people can justify on a busy week, because they leave with something useful.
21. Burnout and mental health talk
An expert speaker covers the signs of burnout and practical ways to prevent it. Book it before a busy season, not after. Book it hosted: How To Avoid Burnout or New Approach to Mental Health.
Expert-led · 60 minutes
22. Public speaking workshop
Simple techniques to structure a message, calm nerves and deliver with confidence, on camera or in a room. Useful before demos and conference season. Book it hosted: Speak Up! Public Speaking Workshop.
Expert-led · 60 minutes
23. Goal setting workshop
An interactive workshop on setting clear goals and building plans that last. Ask everyone to share one goal at the end. Great in January. Book it hosted: Goal Setting & Goal Getting or Bucket List Experience.
Expert-led · 60 minutes
24. Psychological safety or DEI session
A facilitated conversation that gives the team shared language for hard topics. Follow up with one team habit to try for a month. Book it hosted: Psychological Safety in the Workplace or Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Foundations.
Expert-led · 60 minutes
25. Sustainability workshop
Practical, no-guilt ways to live more sustainably, or a composting class on how to start at home. A natural fit for Earth Day. Book it hosted: Small Actions, Big Impact: How to Realistically Live More Sustainably or Composting.
Expert-led · 60 minutes
Wellness events
Cameras optional, no competition, and a calmer afternoon. Works well at the end of a hard quarter.
26. Virtual yoga
Postures, sequences and breathing exercises that help people unwind together. Cameras optional. Workplace wellness challenges. Book it hosted: Yoga.
Instructor-led · 60 minutes
27. Guided meditation
A teacher guides breathing techniques for stress and tension that people can use before a hard meeting. Quiet, simple and easy to repeat monthly. Book it hosted: Meditation.
Instructor-led · 60 minutes
28. Sound meditation
An instructor leads a live sound meditation while everyone sits back and listens. The most relaxing hour on this list. Book it hosted: Sound Meditation.
Instructor-led · 60 minutes
29. Dance fitness class
Simple choreography and a full-body workout, built so beginners can keep up. A good energy boost for a Friday afternoon. Book it hosted: Beatz.
Instructor-led · 60 minutes
30. Journaling workshop
A kit ships to each person, and a guide leads journaling techniques and prompts that get ideas flowing. Sharing is optional. Book it hosted: Gratitude Journaling.
Kit ships · 60 minutes
Holidays and celebrations
Seasonal versions of the formats above, plus the moments worth marking every year.
31. Virtual holiday party
A festive game show or holiday trivia as the main event, with a short toast and a gift on the way. Book early in the fall for December dates. Virtual holiday party. Book it hosted: Festive Family Feud or Christmas Trivia Party.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
32. Heritage month trivia
Hosted trivia and games for Black History Month, AAPI Heritage Month, Women's History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month. Ask your employee resource group to co-host. Book it hosted: Black History Trivia & Games or AAPI Heritage Trivia & Games.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
33. Halloween party
Costumes on camera, a quick vote, then spooky trivia or a Halloween cocktail class. Give prizes for the best team costume. Book it hosted: Halloween Trivia Time or Halloween-Themed Mixology.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
34. Thanksgiving gratitude games
Light games with a round where people thank a teammate by name. A warm way to start the long weekend. Virtual Thanksgiving events. Book it hosted: Gratitude Games & Grins.
Hosted live · 60 minutes
35. Year-end awards
Fun, kind superlatives for every person, read out before the break. Pair them with a hosted game so the hour ends on a high. End-of-year celebration ideas.
DIY · 20 minutes
How to run a virtual event people enjoy
Seven habits that separate a fun hour from another call people keep muted.
- One activity, 60 minutes. Attention drops after an hour on camera. Pick one main activity and skip the agenda slides.
- Book 2 to 4 weeks out. Hosted games need about 2 weeks, kit workshops about 3 (3 to 4 for international addresses) and custom content about 4.
- Collect addresses early for kits. Send the address form with the invite. Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, US territories and international addresses cost extra to ship.
- Confirm the platform. Our hosted games run on Zoom by default, and on Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request.
- Use small breakout teams. Teams of four to six keep everyone talking. Mix departments on purpose.
- Pick a time inside work hours. For global teams, rotate the time zone instead of always favoring headquarters.
- Share the moment afterward. Post the winners and a few photos in Slack or Teams the same day. It's half the value.
How to choose a virtual event company
Virtual events for companies come from three kinds of vendors: companies that host every event themselves, marketplaces that list other providers' events, and self-guided game platforms. Ask each the same five questions.
- Who hosts it? A company's own host, or a third-party provider listed on a marketplace.
- Which video platforms? Most default to Zoom. Check before you book if you live in Teams or Meet.
- How is it priced? Per person, a group package, or quote only. Group packages are kinder to late RSVPs.
- What do kits cost to ship? Ask what's included and what international addresses cost.
- What's the lead time? Two weeks for games and three for kits is typical.
We compare 12 virtual team building companies side by side, with published prices. KraftyLab hosts every event live, runs in-person games in 17 US cities and sends corporate gifts, so one planner can cover your whole year. Get a free quote with your date and headcount and you get a full event plan within 24 hours.
