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.
Holiday party games for large groups
Updated: 2026-10-19
With 50+ people, most party games break: explanations take too long, only the front rows hear, and turns never come around. Games for large groups need three things – they run in parallel at every table, rules fit on one card, and scoring is simple.
Table teams are your friend: every table is a team, a ‘table captain’ hands in answers, and the host only needs a microphone and a screen.
The games
2. Secret missions
Everyone draws a sealed card with a harmless mission (“get three people to say ‘cinnamon’”, “find out someone’s favourite holiday film”). At dessert, people reveal and guess missions. Runs quietly in the background all evening.
3. 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.
4. Estimation jar
Fill a jar with sweets or baubles; guests write their guess on a slip. Closest guess wins the jar. Zero pressure, zero explanation needed.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Paper tree build-off
Each team gets 20 sheets of paper and 1 m of tape and has 10 minutes to build the tallest free-standing Christmas tree. Great for mixing departments.
8. 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.
Host tips
- Put instructions on each table (one card) instead of explaining from the stage.
- Use a microphone – always. Even for 40 people.
- Limit the main game to 45 minutes and schedule it before the dessert, not after the bar opens.
- Announce winners by table, not by individual.
FAQ
What works best for 100+ people?
A table quiz on the big screen plus secret missions running all evening. Both scale without extra effort.
How do we form teams quickly?
Use the seating plan: each table is a team. Mix departments when assigning seats.