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How to host a Christmas quiz at work

Updated: 2026-10-19

A quiz is the single most reliable game for an office Christmas party: it scales from 6 to 300 people, works on-site and remote, and suits introverts and extroverts alike. But a badly hosted quiz drags. Here is how to run one that feels quick and fun.

Plan about 45 minutes in total including scoring – that is 5 rounds of 6–8 questions.

The games

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.

  • Players: 8–200
  • Time: 30–60 min
  • Materials: Questions, answer sheets, a screen or a host with a mic

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.

  • Players: 4–200
  • Time: 10–15 min
  • Materials: Slides or printed cards

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.

  • Players: Any
  • Time: 10 min
  • Materials: Slides with 3–4 zoom levels

4. 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.

  • Players: 8–80
  • Time: 15–20 min
  • Materials: Photos on slides

8 steps to a great quiz

  1. Pick 5 rounds. For example: films, music, traditions around the world, pictures/emoji, and one round about your company’s year.
  2. Write 6–8 questions per round. Mix easy and hard. Avoid questions where one person in the room is the obvious expert.
  3. Build simple slides. One question per slide, large font, answers on separate slides at the end of each round.
  4. Form teams of 4–6. Mix departments. Let teams pick a funny name – it’s the first icebreaker.
  5. Explain the rules in 60 seconds. One answer sheet per team, no phones, the host’s decision is final (with humour).
  6. Score fast. A co-host scores while you present the next round. Show the scoreboard every two rounds.
  7. Finish with a tie-breaker. An estimation question (“How many baubles are on our tree?”) settles ties without debate.
  8. Award small prizes. A trophy that travels to next year’s winner becomes a tradition.

Host tips

  • Rehearse once with the actual screen and microphone.
  • Show the scoreboard after every second round – it keeps tension high.
  • Have a co-host collect sheets and score while you present the next round.
  • Prepare a tie-breaker and three ‘joker’ questions in case of time left.

FAQ

How long should a work quiz be?

40–50 minutes. Longer than an hour and attention drops.

Should the boss play?

Yes, in a mixed team – it is good for morale. Avoid an all-management team.

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