A virtual Christmas party works when people have something to do besides watch each other eat. These 10 virtual Christmas party ideas suit remote and hybrid teams: each runs on a normal video call and most are free.
Start with the first five, which use AhaSlides so everyone joins on their phone. The last five are low-tech. Mix two or three and keep the whole thing under 90 minutes.
Updated October 2026. Prices and plan limits were checked against the sources listed at the end.
Virtual Christmas party ideas at a glance
Group sizes, times and costs are typical ranges, not fixed prices.
| Idea | Group size | Time | Cost | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas trivia in teams | Any size | 10 to 20 min | Free | AhaSlides |
| Christmas myths: true or false | Any size | 5 to 10 min | Free | AhaSlides |
| Two truths and a Christmas lie | Up to 30 | 10 to 15 min | Free | AhaSlides |
| One-word Christmas icebreaker | Any size | 2 to 5 min | Free | AhaSlides |
| Festive traditions swap | Up to 40 | 10 to 15 min | Free | AhaSlides |
| Cookie decorating together | Up to 20 | 30 to 40 min | Low cost | Video call |
| Watch-together film night | Any size | 45 to 60 min | Free | Video call |
| Hot chocolate bar | Up to 30 | 20 to 30 min | Low cost | Video call |
| Write Christmas cards together | Up to 30 | 15 to 20 min | Low cost | Video call |
| Mystery gift box | Up to 50 | 15 to 20 min | Medium cost | Posted in advance |
Virtual Christmas party ideas you run with AhaSlides
These five need a phone each and one shared screen. They all live in one deck, so you can use the template further down.
1. Christmas trivia in teams
Trivia is the safest opener because everyone can take part from their own screen. Put people into teams, ask 8 to 10 festive questions and show a leaderboard between rounds. In AhaSlides, open Quiz settings and turn on Play as teams (it is not on every plan, so check yours). Breakout rooms belong to your video-call tool, so use them for team huddles between questions.
Keep the questions fun rather than fiendish, such as which country sends London a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square every year. The answer is Norway, a gift since 1947 [1]. For ready-made rounds, try our Christmas movie quiz, Christmas music quiz, Christmas picture quiz or family Christmas quiz.
- Group size: Any size (teams of 4 to 6 work well)
- Time: 10 to 20 minutes
- Cost: Free
- What you need: AhaSlides, a video call and breakout rooms for team huddles
How to run it
- Split everyone into teams before the first question.
- Show one question at a time and give 20 to 30 seconds to answer.
- Reveal the answer, then the leaderboard, and pause for a quick reaction.
- Finish with the winning team and a round of applause on camera.
2. Christmas myths: true or false
A True or False slide shows one claim and two big cards, and the room votes on a countdown. It is quick, it scores itself and it starts good arguments. Pick myths people half remember. For example, “Santa wore red only after a soft drink advert invented his suit” is false: Santa appeared in red and white on Puck magazine covers in the early 1900s, decades before the 1930s adverts that made the image famous [2].
- Group size: Any size
- Time: 5 to 10 minutes for 5 claims
- Cost: Free
- What you need: AhaSlides and five myths you have checked
How to run it
- Write five claims, mixing true and false.
- Show each claim and let the room vote on their phones.
- Reveal the answer and read out the one-line explanation.
- Check each claim against a reliable source before the party, so you never announce a wrong answer.
3. Two truths and a Christmas lie
Ask a few colleagues for two true festive facts about themselves and one invented one, such as a family tradition or a disastrous gift. Show each set as a poll and let the room vote for the lie before the person reveals it. It works well for teams who rarely meet, because people learn something real about each other in a couple of minutes.
- Group size: Up to 30
- Time: 10 to 15 minutes for 4 or 5 people
- Cost: Free
- What you need: AhaSlides and statements sent in by volunteers a day before
How to run it
- Collect three statements from each volunteer a day before the party.
- Add one poll slide per person, with the three statements as options.
- Let the room vote, then ask the volunteer to reveal the lie.
- Keep a tally if you want a friendly winner for the best bluffer.
4. One-word Christmas icebreaker
Start the call with a word cloud: “One word that sums up Christmas at your house.” Answers appear live, the biggest words are the ones most people typed, and you get an easy first talking point (“Who wrote chaos?”). It takes two minutes and warms up even a quiet room.
- Group size: Any size
- Time: 2 to 5 minutes
- Cost: Free
- What you need: AhaSlides, a QR code on the shared screen
How to run it
- Put the word cloud slide up as people arrive.
- Ask everyone to type one word on their phone.
- Read out the biggest words and invite the author of an odd one to explain.
5. Festive traditions swap
Use an idea board to collect one tradition each, sorted into columns such as Food, Music and Games. Remote colleagues add theirs from their phones, and the board fills up while you chat. Finish by asking the owner of the strangest tradition to explain it.
- Group size: Up to 40
- Time: 10 to 15 minutes
- Cost: Free
- What you need: AhaSlides idea board with three columns
How to run it
- Create the board with Food, Music and Games columns.
- Give everyone two minutes to add a card.
- Read a few cards aloud and group any repeats.
- Ask the owner of the most unusual tradition to tell the story.
Low-tech virtual Christmas party ideas
These five need only a video call and a few household items.
6. Cookie decorating together
Send everyone the same simple recipe in advance, or buy ready-baked biscuits, and decorate them on camera with a 20-minute timer. Finish with a vote for the most creative, the most chaotic and the most delicious-looking. Some people prefer to keep their camera on only for the final reveal, so make that optional.
- Group size: Up to 20
- Time: 30 to 40 minutes
- Cost: Low cost
- What you need: Biscuits or a recipe, icing and toppings, a video call
How to run it
- Share the recipe or shopping list a week ahead and ask about allergies.
- Start a 20-minute timer and decorate on camera.
- Hold up each biscuit for a quick reveal.
- Run a poll for the most creative and the most chaotic.
7. Watch-together film night
Pick a short festive film or a set of clips, share your screen and keep the chat open for commentary. Check the licence terms of whichever service you use before streaming to a group. Choose something short enough that people can stay for the discussion afterwards, and let those who cannot attend watch on their own time.
- Group size: Any size
- Time: 45 to 60 minutes
- Cost: Free
- What you need: A short film or clips you may legally share, a video call with screen sharing
How to run it
- Choose a short film and confirm you may share it with a group.
- Test screen sharing with sound five minutes before.
- Keep the chat open for live comments.
- Finish with a quick poll on the best scene.
8. Hot chocolate bar
Everyone builds their own mug from the same toppings, such as marshmallows, cinnamon or crushed candy canes, and presents it to the group. It is cheap, it suits people who do not drink alcohol and it gives remote colleagues a shared ritual. Give a small prize for the most over-the-top mug.
- Group size: Up to 30
- Time: 20 to 30 minutes
- Cost: Low cost
- What you need: Hot chocolate and a topping list, a video call
How to run it
- Send the topping list a few days before.
- Ask everyone to build a mug on camera.
- Take turns to show it and name it.
- Vote for the most over-the-top mug.
9. Write Christmas cards together
Set aside 15 minutes for the team to write cards to customers, retired colleagues or a charity you support. Play quiet music, share a few good examples at the start, and let people read one line aloud if they want to. It adds some meaning to the party without making anyone perform.
- Group size: Up to 30
- Time: 15 to 20 minutes
- Cost: Low cost
- What you need: Cards and pens, or a shared document for e-cards
How to run it
- Choose who the cards are for and share the address list.
- Post blank cards, or share an e-card template, in advance.
- Write together for 15 minutes with quiet music.
- Invite anyone who wants to read a line aloud.
10. Mystery gift box
Post each person a small, identical box a week before the party, with a few snacks, a festive trinket and a printed instruction card. Everyone opens it together on camera at a set moment. Ask people about dietary needs and addresses early, and send boxes to hybrid colleagues who work from home too.
- Group size: Up to 50
- Time: 15 to 20 minutes on the call
- Cost: Medium cost
- What you need: Identical boxes posted ahead, a video call
How to run it
- Collect addresses and dietary needs three weeks ahead.
- Post the boxes at least a week before the party.
- Open them together on camera at a set moment.
- Ask everyone to show their favourite item.
Running a hybrid Christmas party
If part of your team is in the office, avoid a setup where the room laughs and the remote people watch. Use one shared screen for the activities, ask everyone to join on their own phone, even when they sit together, and give a remote colleague the host role for one round. The same quiz, poll and word cloud then work for everyone.
For an in-person event or a mix of both, our guide to work Christmas and year-end party ideas has activities for the office. More general remote games are in our free virtual party ideas.
Planning checklist
- Choose a time that suits every time zone, and keep it inside working hours if you can.
- Send the join link and any kit list a week ahead.
- Test the quiz and the screen sharing five minutes before.
- Keep the full session to 60 to 90 minutes.
- End on a high with a final round or a thank-you from a leader.
Planning the next celebration too? Try our New Year's Eve quiz questions or run funny awards for employees as a closing round.
The Free plan allows up to 50 participants, 5 quiz questions and 3 poll questions per presentation, so use a paid plan for a bigger party [3].
FAQ
How long should a virtual Christmas party last?
Between 60 and 90 minutes suits most teams. Mix two or three ideas, start with a quick icebreaker and end on a high with a final round or a thank-you, rather than letting the call fade out.
What are free virtual Christmas party ideas for work?
Christmas trivia, a true or false round, two truths and a Christmas lie, a one-word word cloud and a traditions board all run on the AhaSlides Free plan. Cookie decorating, a hot chocolate bar and card writing need only a video call and a few household items.
How do you run a virtual Christmas party for a hybrid team?
Use one shared screen for the activities and ask everyone to join on their own phone, even people in the same room. Give a remote colleague the host role for one round so the room does not do all the talking.
How many people can join the AhaSlides template on the Free plan?
The Free plan allows up to 50 participants, 5 quiz questions and 3 poll questions per presentation. A bigger party needs a paid plan [3].
Sources
[1] City of Westminster. The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree continues to promote friendship and peace. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/trafalgar-square-christmas-tree-continues-promote-friendship-and-peace
[2] The Coca-Cola Company. Haddon Sundblom and the Coca-Cola Santas (Santa wore a red coat before Sundblom painted him, and his Coca-Cola Santa debuted in 1931). https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/haddon-sundblom-and-the-coca-cola-santas. The Public Domain Review. A Pictorial History of Santa Claus (Puck cover, 3 December 1902 issue shows the modern red-suited Santa). https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/a-pictorial-history-of-santa-claus/
[3] AhaSlides. Pricing. https://ahaslides.com/pricing/
Group sizes, times and costs are the AhaSlides Team's planning estimates, not quotes. Stock photos are licensed from Freepik; the slide images are test runs with 12 test players.
