Virtual Christmas party ideas for remote teams
By the Mission Memories team · Updated
The short answer
A good virtual Christmas party is short (about an hour on the call), has one or two structured games, and gives people something to do before the call too. Popular ideas are a festive photo challenge that runs for the week before, a Christmas quiz, a Christmas jumper competition and a virtual Secret Santa. Mission Memories runs the photo challenge with a live leaderboard you can show on the call.
Virtual Christmas party games
- Festive photo challenge. Runs for the week before the party, then share the leaderboard on the call and crown the winner. Set it up on Mission Memories.
- Christmas quiz in breakout rooms.
- Christmas jumper competition, voted on the call.
- Virtual Secret Santa, with gifts posted to home addresses.
- Guess the baby photo, with festive baby photos.
- Christmas Pictionary on a shared whiteboard.
- Two truths and a lie, Christmas edition.
Festive photo challenges for remote teams
- Your most festive mug
- Your Christmas tree (or your best attempt)
- Your Christmas jumper on a video call
- The view from your window this week
- Recreate a Christmas card photo at home
- Your pet in something festive
- Your best mince pie
- Screenshot a team call where everyone's wearing a Christmas hat
- Your favourite Christmas decoration and its story
- Film a 10-second Christmas message to the team
How to run a virtual Christmas party
- Send the photo challenge link a week before so people can take part in their own time.
- Keep the call to about an hour.
- Start with a quick icebreaker, then one main game like a quiz.
- Finish by sharing the photo leaderboard and the best photos, and give out prizes.
- Send something physical if you can: a snack box or a voucher makes it feel like a party.
Hybrid parties
If some of the team is at an office party and some are remote, a photo challenge lets everyone play the same game. Add both in-person and at-home challenges so nobody is left out. See our Christmas party games for work for in-person ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a virtual Christmas party fun?
Keep the call short, run one or two structured games, and give people something to do beforehand, like a festive photo challenge with a leaderboard revealed on the call.
What games can you play at a virtual Christmas party?
A festive photo challenge, a Christmas quiz, a jumper competition, virtual Secret Santa, Christmas Pictionary and two truths and a lie.
How long should a virtual Christmas party be?
About an hour on the call. Longer than that and attention drops, so move longer games to before the call.
Run it with Mission Memories
Free for 5 guests. Guests join with your code from their phone's browser, no app needed.