1. Team holiday trivia
Split into teams of 4–6, play 4–6 short rounds (movies, music, traditions around the world, a round about your own company). Teams write answers on one sheet, so nobody has to shout an answer alone.
Virtual holiday party ideas for remote teams
Updated: 2026-10-19
A remote holiday party fails for one reason: it feels like another meeting. The fix is structure – short segments, breakout rooms of 4–6, and games where the chat is part of the fun.
Keep it to 60–75 minutes. Send a small parcel or a voucher in advance if budget allows; opening it together at minute one is a strong start.
The games
2. Emoji Christmas movie quiz
Show a row of emojis (🏠👦😱) and teams guess the film or song. Works on a projector, in a video call or printed on the table. Ten emojis take about ten minutes.
3. Zoomed-in picture guess
Show an extreme close-up of a holiday object (a pine needle, tinsel, a gingerbread corner) and zoom out step by step. Fewer steps = more points.
4. Online drawing game
Use a free browser drawing-and-guessing game with a private room and a custom word list of holiday and company terms. Nobody needs to install anything.
5. Holiday this-or-that
Read two options (“mulled wine or hot chocolate?”, “real tree or fake tree?”); people move to a side of the room or vote with emoji in the chat. A perfect 5-minute warm-up.
6. Party bingo
A bingo card with things that will happen at the party (“someone mentions the snow”, “find a colleague who has never seen Home Alone”). First full line wins. Gives quiet people a reason to start conversations.
7. Guess the colleague (childhood photo)
Collect opt-in childhood or holiday photos beforehand and show them one by one; teams guess who it is. Only use photos people volunteered.
8. Thank-you card swap
Everyone draws a colleague’s name and writes two specific sentences of thanks for something that happened this year. Cards are handed out (or read anonymously). Quiet, warm and memorable.
9. Ugly sweater (or desk) contest
Optional dress-up; everyone votes in categories like ‘most festive’ and ‘best DIY’. Remote teams can vote on camera backgrounds instead.
10. Photo scavenger hunt
Teams get a list of 15 photo tasks (“the whole team in one reflection”, “something older than the company”). Photos go into a shared album; the host shows the best ones.
Host tips
- Use breakout rooms of 4–6 for anything conversational.
- Share one link with all materials (slides, bingo cards) before the call.
- Assign a co-host who handles rooms, timer and chat so the host can host.
- End on time. A clean 60 minutes beats a dragging 120.
FAQ
What is a good agenda for a 60-minute virtual party?
5 min welcome + this-or-that, 25 min team quiz in breakouts, 10 min emoji round, 10 min awards or thank-you cards, 10 min open chat.
Which tools do we need?
Only your normal video tool with breakout rooms and a slide deck. Free browser games are optional.