20 Christmas Party Ideas for Work That Go Beyond Drinks

Most work parties come down to a venue, a bar tab and a playlist. If you want Christmas party ideas for work that more of your colleagues will enjoy, start here. This list has 20 options, from free office games to bookable experiences.

Each idea says who it suits: team size, budget, remote staff and non-drinkers. They run in order, from cheap and in-office, to bookable, to remote-friendly. Need the wider logistics? Here’s how to plan an office Christmas party.

First, the cheap Christmas party ideas for work that need no booking and no budget sign-off. Most take under an hour to set up.

1. Secret Santa with one silly rule

Everyone draws a name and buys one gift. Add a rule to make it fun, such as “must be useful at a desk”. It suits any team size and costs whatever cap you set. Non-drinkers lose nothing. Remote staff can join if gifts go by post.

2. A Christmas quiz in the office

Think pub quiz, minus the pub. It is one of the easiest Christmas party ideas for work to run. Mix festive films, adverts and songs, then add a round about your own company. It suits any team that fits in one room or one video call. It costs almost nothing. The finance team will claim the maths round.

3. A festive bake-off

Staff bring a bake and colleagues vote. It suits small and mid-sized offices on a tight budget. Ask people to label ingredients so nobody has to guess about nuts. Add a prize for the ugliest bake that still tastes great. Score sheets keep the judging fair. Non-drinkers love this one, and it is among the cheapest Christmas party ideas for work you can run.

4. A funny awards ceremony

Hand out joke awards for office habits, such as “most likely to reply all”. Our funny employee awards list gives you categories to borrow. It costs next to nothing and suits any size. Remote staff can vote online. Tease habits, never people.

5. A desk decorating contest

Each team decorates its area. A judge from another floor scores the results. It suits offices with several small teams and a budget of tinsel. Remote workers can join by decorating their video background. Set a start and finish time, so judging does not drag. Keep the fire rules in mind before anyone hangs fairy lights.

6. Christmas jumper day with a donation

Staff wear a jumper and give to a charity the team picks. It suits all sizes, costs very little and works on camera too. Make it optional, so nobody feels forced into novelty knitwear. Good for non-drinkers and for anyone who dislikes party games.

7. A shared Christmas lunch

Order in, or ask everyone to bring a dish. Holding it at lunchtime helps people with childcare or long commutes. It suits any team with a kitchen or meeting room. A sign-up sheet stops six people bringing crisps. Alcohol-free by default. Add the quiz from idea 2 for a full afternoon.

Next, the bookable ones. These Christmas party ideas for work need a supplier, so ask about December dates as early as you can. Each listing below is a real supplier in our Something Different directory.

8. Improv murder mystery with Moonstone Murders

Moonstone Murders specialises in improv murder mystery team building, “using only professional comedy improvisers”. You name the place and they bring the case. There are pre-written cases and bespoke options. It suits teams who want to laugh and solve something together. Events run across England, including London, Manchester and Leeds. More games like this sit in our games and challenges directory.

9. A cookery class with Migrateful

Migrateful is an award-winning UK charity that trains migrant and refugee chefs to teach corporate cookery workshops. Each booking helps train more chefs to build professional skills and reach paid work. It suits teams who want a party with a purpose. Food is the point, not drink. Ask about dates and menus early.

10. A glass workshop with E3 Creative Glass

E3 Creative Glass is a female-owned East London business run by artist and educator Nadine Mahoney. Its workshops are relaxed and hands-on, with no creative experience needed. The listing names “alternative Christmas parties”. Everyone makes something unique to take home, so the party leaves a keepsake on every desk. It suits London-area teams who want a calm, creative afternoon.

11. Drumming and choir with Rock and Roll Experience

Rock and Roll Experience designs events that get people involved rather than “sitting on the sidelines”. Options include drumming, choir, Boomwhackers, music videos and building guitars for charity. Formats range from short energisers to full team experiences, indoors, outdoors or hybrid. It suits teams who would rather make noise than small talk. Browse more in the music and movement directory.

12. An office pop-up market with I Do Handmade

I Do Handmade turns unused foyer and reception areas into pop-up markets, including one-off events to celebrate Christmas. Staff browse unique products and sample baked treats. Small businesses get new customers. The listing says it runs “without any hassle for your team to organise”. It suits UK offices with a foyer or reception.

13. A team volunteering day

Spend half a day helping a local charity. Sorting donations, wrapping gifts or tidying a community garden all work. It suits any size and costs little. It gives something back, and people remember that. Contact the charity early, because December fills up fast. Our team volunteering directory lists suppliers that run organised volunteering days.

14. A festive walk

Take a short winter walk, carry flasks of hot chocolate and end at a café. It suits small and mid-sized teams with mixed fitness, if you pick a step-free route. Budget is low. Nobody needs a drink in hand to enjoy it.

Last, the remote-friendly and alcohol-free picks. These suit hybrid teams well, because nobody is left holding a drink in a room alone.

15. A virtual escape game with Escape From The Meeting

Escape From The Meeting is a 60-minute virtual escape game. Coworkers escape a “hilariously bad company meeting” by investigating digital evidence and chatting to find excuses. It is designed for distributed teams. The game uses no cameras, awkward icebreakers or forced introductions. Everything runs online and is hosted behind the scenes, across offices, countries and time zones.

16. A virtual tasting with couch + cork

couch + cork runs virtual wine tasting and other interactive experiences, including cocktail tastings, creative workshops, trivia and food-focused sessions. The team handles the details so organisers can enjoy the event too. It suits remote teams. Many options centre on drinks, so ask which formats work without alcohol.

17. A posted treat box for every home

Send each remote colleague a box of festive treats, timed to land before a shared video call. It suits spread-out teams with a modest budget per person. It feels more personal than another video call. Check dietary needs first. Our employee gifting directory lists suppliers who can help.

18. A party in working hours

Hold the party during the working day. It takes the least planning of anything here. Acas recommends it too: its 2025 poll found 20% of employees dislike after-hours drinks. Parents, carers, non-drinkers and long-distance commuters can all come. It suits any size. It costs company time rather than bar money. Remote staff can join the same hour by video.

19. A Christmas traditions swap

Each person shares one winter tradition from their family or culture, in two minutes. It suits mixed or international teams and costs nothing. It also includes colleagues who don’t celebrate Christmas. Hold it in person or on a call. Ask for volunteers beforehand, so nobody is put on the spot.

20. A mocktail-making contest

Share one shopping list. Everyone makes a mocktail at their desk or on camera. Judges score on taste and name. It suits non-drinkers, remote teams and tight budgets. It also gives your tipplers something to do between rounds. Easy to run, and easy to run again in summer.

How to pick from these Christmas party ideas for work

Start with who is in the room, because the best Christmas party ideas for work depend on team size and location. A mixed office team can mix ideas 2, 7 and 11. A remote team will do best with 15, 17 and 20.

For a tight budget, use the cheap ideas near the top. For a big moment, book one experience and add a free idea around it. Whatever you choose, ask staff first. The best work Christmas party ideas fit the people attending, not the calendar.

Team spread across offices, or based in the US? A virtual option such as Escape From The Meeting works for everyone, wherever they log in.

FAQs

What are good Christmas party ideas for work on a small budget?

Secret Santa, a quiz, a bake-off and a shared lunch cost very little. Add a joke awards round for extra laughs. All four work in a normal office, and most work on video too.

How do I include non-drinkers?

Choose activities where drink is not the point, such as cooking, crafts, a quiz or a mocktail contest. Hold the event in working hours so nobody has to stay late. Offer good non-alcoholic drinks, not just water.

What work Christmas party ideas suit remote teams?

A virtual escape game, a mocktail contest and posted treat boxes all work well. A traditions swap needs only a video call. Pick one activity and keep it short. Thirty to sixty minutes beats a long call that people drift out of.

When should I book a supplier?

As early as you can. December dates fill up, so ask in autumn. Check each listing for where the supplier works, then ask for a quote that fits your group.

Photos supplied by Migrateful, E3 Creative Glass and Rock and Roll Experience.