"Whether your team’s scattered across different cities or you just want an excuse for some festive fun, a virtual Christmas party is the way to go."
It’s not just about throwing on an ugly jumper and sipping hot chocolate - it’s about bringing your team together for a bit of fun, collaboration, and plenty of holiday cheer.
So, grab a mince pie, turn on those fairy lights, and get ready to make some merry memories with these fun Christmas party ideas for your remote team!
How to Plan a Virtual Christmas Party That Everyone Will Love
Pulling off a virtual Christmas party that’s engaging and fun requires a little bit of planning, but don’t worry - it’s easier than wrapping a spherical-shaped present!
Here are some tips to help you nail the logistics and make sure everything goes off without a glitch:
- Plan out what activities you’ll be doing and when. Share it with your team ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect and has time to prepare.
- Select a video conferencing tool like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Make sure it supports breakout rooms if you want smaller group activities, like trivia or a scavenger hunt.
- Consider time zones when scheduling. Choose a time that works for everyone, or host two sessions if necessary to accommodate different schedules.
- Send festive digital invites or themed email announcements to create buzz and anticipation - it’ll feel like a real event rather than just another meeting.
- Choose a host or co-hosts to keep things moving smoothly. They can introduce games, announce winners, and make transitions seamless.
- Schedule short breaks or light icebreakers between games. Keep things varied to maintain engagement and avoid Zoom fatigue.
- Offer small prizes for activity winners, like virtual vouchers or company swag. Sending goodie bags or e-gift cards ahead of time is a nice touch.
- Check your internet connection and the tools you’ll be using ahead of the event. Make sure everything’s running smoothly to avoid awkward technical issues.
Or if you’d rather remove all the stress of organising a virtual event and just enjoy the festive fun with your team, explore our Christmas Team Building Activities. We’ve got everything you need to create a memorable virtual Christmas party for your team!
Top Virtual Christmas Party Ideas for Remote Teams
Whether you’re looking for some friendly competition or just want to see who’s got the best (or worst) taste in jumpers, these ideas will add plenty of festive fun to your virtual Christmas celebration.
1. Virtual Christmas Jumper Contest
Nothing says “Christmas spirit” quite like a cringe-worthy festive jumper! Host a virtual competition and let the team vote for categories like “ugliest jumper” or “best DIY”.
Add a twist by encouraging everyone to share the story behind their jumpers - bonus points if it involves a family member knitting it!
2. Winter Games
Add some healthy competition to your virtual party with our Winter Games. Teams will take on a series of festive challenges - think winter-themed trivia, puzzles, and even a virtual snowball fight - all while racing to top the leaderboard. It’s fast-paced, full of surprises, and a brilliant way to get everyone working together to take home the gold.
3. Festive Murder Mystery
Want to spice up your virtual Christmas party with a bit of (light-hearted) drama? Dive into Murder on the Slopes.
Set in a fancy ski resort, your team will be cracking clues, grilling suspects, and trying to figure out who’s guilty of the ultimate holiday crime. Teams will work together to interrogate characters, untangle alibis, and - hopefully - uncover the culprit before they strike again.
4. “Christmas in My Town” Icebreaker
Have everyone share a Christmas tradition from their hometown or country as an icebreaker. It's a fun way to learn about quirky customs, weird and wonderful holiday foods, or even embarrassing childhood memories. It's also a chance for your team to get to know each other better than the usual "how was your weekend?" conversation.
5. Christmas Bake-Off
Think you’ve got the next Mary Berry on your team? Host a virtual Christmas Bake-Off and let everyone show off their best festive bakes.
Whether it’s a picture-perfect gingerbread house, a lopsided yule log, or an ambitious reindeer-shaped cake, have your team share their creations on video and get the team to vote for their favourites.
6. Christmas Party Playlist
Create a collaborative playlist with everyone’s favourite Christmas songs - think Mariah Carey, Wham!, or even some unconventional choices like “sausage rolls for everyone”. Play it during the party or use it to set the mood for a virtual “guess the song” quiz.
7. End of Year Fun Awards Ceremony
End the year on a high note with a lighthearted awards ceremony that recognises your team’s quirkiest achievements. Think outside the box with categories like “Zoom background of the year”, “most likely to be in PJs during a meeting”, or “best pet cameo”.
Have everyone nominate and vote for winners beforehand, and consider getting some funny prizes ready for the big reveal. It’s a great way to celebrate your team’s personalities and laugh about the chaos of another remote year.
8. Virtual Christmas Quiz
Think you know your Christmas movies from your festive traditions? Put your team’s holiday knowledge to the test with our Christmas Trivia Quiz!
With rounds covering everything from classic carols to quirky global traditions (and a few surprise curveballs), this quiz is guaranteed to reveal who’s a true holiday buff - and who’s just here for the mince pies.
9. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Get your team up and moving with our Virtual Christmas Scavenger Hunt. Armed with a list of festive items to find and fun challenges to complete, everyone will race against the clock to track down everything from a questionable Christmas gift to the cheesiest holiday decoration they can find.
Expect lots of laughs as team members show off their (sometimes bizarre) finds, snap photos, and complete quirky tasks - all while trying to score the most points. It’s a brilliant way to bring a bit of friendly competition and energy to your virtual Christmas celebration!
10. Virtual Movie Watch Party
End your party on a relaxed note with a virtual movie night. Pick a Christmas classic like Elf or Home Alone and use a group watch feature so everyone’s watching together.
It’s an easy, low-key way to wrap up the festivities and enjoy a favourite film as a team.
Bring the Festive Fun to Your Remote Team
A virtual Christmas party is the ideal way to celebrate together, even when you’re miles apart. From quirky icebreakers and festive games to a cosy movie night, there are plenty of ways to keep your team connected and full of holiday cheer.
If you’d rather skip the hassle of planning and dive straight into the festive fun, check out our Christmas Team Building Activities for a stress-free way to create an unforgettable virtual celebration. We’ll handle the details - so you can focus on enjoying the best Christmas party yet!
Happy to create and deliver your own activity?
Then check out our MAKE platform!
Design engaging team-building games for FREE and enchant your colleagues with custom-made festive challenges.
