If you’re in charge of planning your office Christmas party (or just want to throw in a few ideas for your team), here are 21 Christmas party ideas that will make everyone feel included and leave the office excited with holiday spirit.
Office Christmas party Ideas
1. Host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
This one never fails. Ask everyone to wear their loudest, funniest, or most festive sweater. Hand out small prizes like “Most Festive,” “Funniest Sweater,” or “The One That Looks Like Grandma Made It.” People love the excuse to be silly at work, and the photo opportunities are priceless.
2. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
It’s a classic office Christmas party idea for a reason. Keep the budget small (like £10–£15) so no one feels pressured. Encourage thoughtful or quirky gifts that show personality. To make it even more fun, have people open gifts one by one so everyone can enjoy the reactions.
3. Cookie Decorating Station
Set up a table with plain sugar cookies, frosting in piping bags, and a mountain of sprinkles. Even the most serious coworkers will get competitive about who makes the cutest (or most ridiculous) cookie. Bonus: everyone gets a sweet treat to take home.
4. Office Christmas Karaoke
If your team is up for it, Christmas karaoke can be hilarious. Load up classics like All I Want for Christmas Is You or Last Christmas. Even if only a few brave souls get up to sing, the rest of the office will have fun cheering them on.
5. Holiday Potluck Lunch
Food brings people together, and a potluck is the perfect way to share traditions. Ask each coworker to bring a dish — maybe something from their family Christmas table or a favorite winter recipe. You’ll end up with a spread that’s far more interesting than takeaway.
6. Desk Decorating Contest
Encourage everyone to decorate their workspace with lights, tinsel, or mini Christmas trees. Do a little “tour” around the office to judge and vote. Prizes could be as simple as chocolate or a coffee voucher — but the fun is seeing how creative people get.
7. Christmas Photo Booth
Set up a corner with a sparkly backdrop and silly props — Santa hats, reindeer antlers, oversized candy canes. People love snapping group selfies, and it makes for fun memories without needing a professional photographer.
8. Gingerbread House Challenge
Split into teams, hand out gingerbread kits, and see who can build the tallest, most creative, or most festive house. It gets people working together (and laughing when the roofs collapse).
9. Holiday Trivia Game
Put together a quiz with Christmas trivia, movie quotes, and maybe even a few company-related inside jokes. Divide into teams and hand out small prizes. It’s an easy way to get everyone talking and competing in a lighthearted way.
10. DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
Set up a table with hot cocoa, marshmallows, candy canes, whipped cream, and sprinkles. People can build their own festive drink — it’s simple, cozy, and instantly makes the office feel more Christmassy.
11. Christmas Ornament Exchange
Instead of big gifts, have everyone bring a Christmas ornament. It’s affordable, easy, and people can take home a keepsake for their tree.
12. Holiday Bingo
Make bingo cards filled with festive prompts like “Santa hat,” “Fairy lights,” or “Someone singing a carol.” As people mingle and spot these things happening, they can mark them off. First one to get a line wins.
13. Christmas Movie Screening
Pull down the blinds, grab some popcorn, and screen a holiday favorite like Elf, The Holiday, or Home Alone. It’s a relaxed way to celebrate that everyone can enjoy together.
14. White Elephant Gift Swap
Unlike Secret Santa, this game is all about funny, random gifts that people can “steal” from one another. It always gets people laughing, especially if a silly gift becomes the most popular.
15. Festive Cocktail (or Mocktail) Hour
Mix up a couple of holiday-themed drinks — mulled wine, cranberry spritzers, or non-alcoholic punch for a safe option. Add a garnish like cinnamon sticks or sugared cranberries, and it feels instantly festive.
16. Office Bake-Off
Channel your inner Great British Bake Off. Ask people to bring in baked goods and have a tasting competition. Categories could include “Best Presentation,” “Most Festive Flavour,” or “Looks Like a Disaster But Tastes Amazing.”
17. Christmas Carol Singalong
This one is delightfully cheesy, but that’s the charm. Gather around and sing a few carols together — or let the brave ones take the lead while everyone else joins the chorus.
18. Wrapping Station for Charity
Set up a table with wrapping paper and bows, and ask everyone to bring small gifts or donations for a chosen charity. Spend part of the party wrapping them together — it’s festive and meaningful.
19. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Hide small Christmas trinkets or clues around the office — ornaments, candy canes, or little gift tags. Split into teams and race to see who can find them all first.
20. Volunteer Together
Not every Christmas party has to be about food and games. You could spend a day as a team volunteering at a local food bank, shelter, or toy drive. It’s a powerful way to give back and connect outside of work.
21. Christmas Breakfast or Brunch
Who says parties have to be at night? A festive breakfast with pastries, pancakes, and hot drinks before the workday begins can feel just as special and doesn’t clash with people’s busy December evenings.
Final Thoughts on office Christmas party ideas
Office Christmas parties don’t have to be awkward or over-the-top. With the right mix of fun games, festive food, and a little creativity, you can create a celebration that feels joyful and inclusive for everyone. Whether you go with a sweater contest, a hot chocolate bar, or a simple brunch, the most important thing is bringing people together.
