20 Team Building Experiences Worth Booking in 2027

Think about the last team day you actually remember. It probably wasn’t a slide deck or a trivia round. Someone did something real, and people were still talking about it on Monday.

That is what separates team building experiences from games and workshops. In an experience, your team makes, plays, cooks, builds or explores something together, and walks away with a story. Below are 20 team building experiences worth booking in 2027, from US, UK and virtual providers. We lead with the ones that serve the US or work online.

Planning a broad mix instead? See our team building ideas for work and team building games for work.

What are the best team building experiences?

Each pick says where it runs, how big the group can be and how long it takes. Labels come from each supplier’s directory listing. Treat them as team building experience ideas, then ask the supplier about dates and format.

1. Bike Build Donation, by Best Corporate Events, LLC (US, Canada, or virtual anywhere)

Teams earn bike parts through challenges, then build bikes that are donated to kids through a local charity. Best Corporate Events, LLC has run team building since 2010. The finished bikes beat any slide.

• Good for: teams that want to give back together.
• Fit: in person at your workplace, up to 2 hours. The company says it works for groups from 20 to 6,000+.

2. Escape From The Meeting (virtual, works anywhere)

A 60-minute virtual escape game with a nice joke at its core. Coworkers solve clues over chat to find five excuses to leave a bad meeting, with a host guiding the game. Escape From The Meeting uses no cameras and no forced introductions.

• Good for: distributed teams who are tired of icebreakers.
• Fit: online, about 60 minutes.

3. Write your team’s theme song, by Create Your Team Theme Song (US and virtual)

Your team writes original lyrics with an award-winning songwriter and leaves with a recording. Create Your Team Theme Song is led by Oliver Houser, and no musical experience is needed. A sales kickoff opener, sorted.

• Good for: offsites, kickoffs and remote or hybrid teams.
• Fit: 13 to 30 people, up to 2 hours, in person in the US or online.

4. Team Anthem, by SongDivision (UK, US and virtual)

Teams work together to write one original song that captures their values, mission and culture. SongDivision lists Google, PwC and Deloitte among its clients. It also runs a competitive version called Song Slam.

• Good for: making company values stick.
• Fit: 61 to 150 people, in person or virtual.

5. Music Video Team Building, by Kidbilly Music (UK, US and virtual)

Your team writes a company song and produces a music video for it. Kidbilly Music says you don’t have to be a singer to take part. The video gives you something to show the whole company.

• Good for: big groups that want a product at the end.
• Fit: 61 to 150 people, full day, in person.

6. World Drumming Team Building Workshop, by Inspire-works (UK, US and virtual)

A hands-on session in samba, West African drumming, gamelan or steel pans, led by professional facilitators. Inspire-works has run drumming experiences since 2002 and needs no musical experience from you.

• Good for: a loud, shared moment that gets everyone involved fast.
• Fit: 31 to 60 people, up to 2 hours.

7. From Me To We, by Doug Manuel (UK, US and virtual)

Every participant plays a djembe in an interactive keynote that builds to a finale the whole room creates together. Doug Manuel blends storytelling, rhythm and music. No musical experience is needed.

• Good for: kickoff meetings and first-time team gatherings.
• Fit: 13 to 150 people, up to 2 hours, at your workplace.

8. UKULELEINC, by TEAM MUSIC (US, UK, Europe and global)

Everyone learns the ukulele, then plays together as one ensemble. TEAM MUSIC promises two songs in three hours, played as one band.

• Good for: high-energy kickoffs.
• Fit: in person, groups of 13 to 30 or 150+, from up to 2 hours to multi-day.

9. Team Paint Session, by ArtWorx Events (New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, or virtual)

An instructor leads your team to paint canvases, and everyone keeps their finished piece. ArtWorx Events brings a portable setup to your office. It also runs the same session on Zoom.

• Good for: mixed teams where nobody has art experience.
• Fit: 13 to 60 people, up to 2 hours, on site or online.

10. Resin Art Workshop, by The Crafty Kit (New Jersey and New York, US)

A hands-on resin art session that gives the team space to slow down and make something to take home. The Crafty Kit is a studio in Westwood, New Jersey. Past clients include Meta, LinkedIn and The New York Times.

• Good for: small teams, appreciation days and holiday events.
• Fit: up to 12 people, up to 2 hours.

11. Virtual Wine Tasting, by couch + cork (virtual, works anywhere)

A wine educator hosts a live tasting, with wine shipped to guests. couch + cork also runs a live mixology class.

• Good for: remote teams that want a proper social.
• Fit: online. Ask the supplier about group size and timing.

12. Corporate Team Building Tour, by Discover Live (virtual, worldwide)

A local guide walks a city live on camera while your team asks questions and makes requests. Discover Live offers 200+ destinations. It suits anyone who has “done the trivia and the escape rooms”.

• Good for: global teams and heritage month events.
• Fit: online, up to 2 hours, joined from any device.

13. Team session, by human room (US and virtual)

This one has no games at all. human room runs structured, safe conversations for leadership teams, cross-functional groups or teams going through change. Its founder, Lauren Barrett, is a certified coach and EQ facilitator.

• Good for: stretched teams that have lost some connection.
• Fit: up to 2 hours, in person in the US or virtual.

14. Story Exchange Workshop, by Narrative 4 (UK and US)

Pairs share a personal story, retell each other’s story in the first person, then the group reflects together. Narrative 4 lists building trust and helping people feel able to speak up among its reasons to book.

• Good for: teams that need to understand each other better.
• Fit: in person. Ask the supplier about group size and timing.

15. Horse Guided Leadership, by Global Warriors (UK and US)

Leaders and teams work with horses on the ground and get instant feedback on their leadership style. Global Warriors says no horse experience is needed.

• Good for: senior leadership teams.
• Fit: 13 to 30 people, outdoors, in person.

16. Team Development with Horses, by LeadChange Ltd (UK and US)

Teams complete ground-based challenges with horses, get feedback on how they work together, and coaches guide action. LeadChange quotes a Microsoft HR director calling the day “a powerful accelerator”.

• Good for: teams that want to step out of the training room.
• Fit: in person. Ask the supplier about group size and timing.

17. Clowning workshop, by Corporate Clown (UK, US and virtual)

A half-day workshop of clowning and embodied practice that helps teams think and connect differently. Corporate Clown needs no performance experience.

• Good for: teams stuck in patterns that no longer work.
• Fit: 13 to 30 people. The Half-Day Team Workshop is four hours for about 20 people.

18. Murder Mystery, by Moonstone Murders (London, Leeds, Manchester, Europe, global, or virtual)

Professional comedy improvisers play the suspects, and your team works together as detectives. Moonstone Murders will bring the case to your own office. A virtual version runs on video.

• Good for: icebreakers for teams who don’t know each other well.
• Fit: up to 150 people, up to 2 hours, at your workplace or online.

19. Signature Full Day, by Bramble Farm Bees (near Maidstone, UK)

Suit up for a hive experience in the morning, then make beeswax candles in the afternoon. Bramble Farm Bees adds honey tasting and a gift to take home. Few forget a first open hive.

• Good for: a wellbeing day away from screens.
• Fit: 13 to 30 people, full day, at the farm.

20. Refugee-Led Cookery Class, by Migrateful (London, UK, or virtual)

A refugee chef teaches a hands-on class and shares recipes and stories from home as the team cooks and eats. Migrateful is a charity, and each booking helps train more chefs. A virtual cookery class sends ingredients in advance.

• Good for: teams that want fun with a purpose.
• Fit: up to 30 people, up to 2 hours.

Our top three picks

• Best for remote teams: Escape From The Meeting. It is short, funny and asks nothing of shy people.
• Best for giving back: Bike Build Donation. The team sees the result at the end.
• Best for a lasting memory: Create Your Team Theme Song. The recording stays after the day ends.

Why shared team building experiences help

Gallup’s workplace survey includes the item “Q10. I have a best friend at work.” You can read it in the Gallup Q12 survey overview. Close ties between coworkers are worth building, and shared team building experiences are one way to start.

How to choose a team building experience

Start with five questions about team building experiences. Each one removes half the list.

What is the purpose? A new team needs an icebreaker. A tired team needs rest. A team in change needs honest talk. Pick the one that fits that goal.

How big is the group? Many listings cap at 12, 30 or 60 people. Others run for hundreds. Check the supplier’s group size before you fall in love with the idea.

Where will people be? For a mixed or remote team, choose a virtual option from this list. For an office team, ask whether the supplier can come to you.

Can everyone take part? Ask about mobility, noise, alcohol and physical effort. Confirm access needs with the supplier first.

What is the budget? Prices are not in most listings, so ask for a quote. Give the supplier your headcount and date.

Want a city-specific list? Try our guides to team building activities in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and London. For more unusual formats, browse the directory’s experiential team building hub.

What makes a team building experience different from a game?

A game has rules and a winner. Team building experiences have a result you can point to, such as a painting, a song, a meal or a bike. People remember the thing they made.

How far ahead should I book team building experiences for 2027?

Ask early, especially for December or for large groups. Many suppliers tailor each session, so lead time keeps your options open when booking team building experiences.

Can virtual team building experiences work as well as in-person ones?

Virtual team building experiences can work, if the format is built for it. Look for sessions where people take part by chat, voice or hands-on making. Wine tasting, paint-along sessions and live city tours do this well.

Are team building experiences suitable for quiet or hesitant people?

Yes. Team building experiences suit quiet people when you pick the right one. Songwriting, painting and cookery let people contribute without performing. Some suppliers say outright that no cameras or forced introductions are involved.

The bottom line

The best team building experiences give people a shared story. Pick one that fits your group size, location and goal. Then ask the supplier to tailor it to your team. For more team building experience ideas, start with the directory.

Photos supplied by SongDivision (top), Kidbilly Music and Doug Manuel.