Why Holiday Parties Need an Icebreaker
Holiday parties are supposed to bring people together, but most guests spend the evening with the same few coworkers or friends. People from different teams, offices, or partners and spouses who don't know anyone end up standing around. A holiday party icebreaker gives everyone a festive reason to talk to someone new.
Jam Bingo sends each guest holiday prompts, like 'Find someone who has a unique holiday tradition and ask how it started.' After each conversation, guests scan each other's QR codes to unlock the next prompt, and a leaderboard adds friendly competition. It works for 20 guests or 2,000, and there's nothing to download.
How Does Holiday Party Icebreaker Work?
Holiday Party Icebreaker runs on Jam Bingo—the simple, interactive networking activity. It is not a card, it has no squares, and attendees do not fill anything out. Here’s what each attendee does:
- 1
Scan to join
Attendees scan the event’s Jam Bingo QR code (or enter the game code). It runs in the phone’s browser—nothing to download.
- 2
Get a conversation prompt
Each person receives a conversation prompt on their phone, like a question to ask someone new.
- 3
Find someone and talk
They find someone who fits the prompt, have the conversation, then scan that person’s QR code (or enter their code) to unlock the next prompt.
- 4
Repeat and connect
Every connection is saved, and the leaderboard shows who met the most new people—perfect for prizes.
Try the Jam Bingo Demo
See exactly what your attendees will experience. Scan the QR code with your phone, or use game code QW40PM.
How to Use the Holiday Party Icebreaker at Your Event
Follow these steps to set up and run the holiday party icebreaker for your own event.
- 01Step 1
Pick Festive Prompts
Start from the Office Holiday Party template, or write prompts that fit every tradition your guests celebrate.
TipKeep prompts inclusive — 'holiday traditions' works for everyone, not just Christmas. - 02Step 2
Put the QR Code Where Guests Arrive
Display it at the entrance, the bar, and on table signs. Guests join with just their name.
TipLaunch it as people arrive and before dinner — that's when guests stand around with a drink. - 03Step 3
Hand Out Prizes
After 30–45 minutes, share the leaderboard and give festive prizes to the top connectors.
TipA small holiday prize for the top 3 keeps the energy high all night.
Ready to Use the Holiday Party Icebreaker at Your Event?
Create a Jam Bingo, add your own prompts, and get a QR code for your event. You’ll be directed to the Create Account page first.
Have questions? Book a 15-minute demo.
Where to Use Holiday Party Icebreaker
Office Holiday Parties
Get coworkers from different teams talking over the holidays.
- Mixes departments and offices
- Plus-ones meet people too
- Festive and inclusive
Company-Wide Celebrations
Bring a large end-of-year party together with one activity everyone can join.
- Works for any company size
- No props or printing
- Leaderboard adds friendly competition
Club & Community Holiday Events
End the year with members meeting people they haven't talked to yet.
- Great for members and guests
- Easy for volunteers to run
- Festive prompts ready to use
Holiday Party Icebreaker vs. White Elephant
| Feature | White Elephant Gift Exchange | Holiday Party Icebreaker |
|---|---|---|
| Who guests talk to | Mostly watching one exchange at a time | Several new people, one-on-one |
| Works for large parties | Slow with 50+ guests | Any group size at once |
| Cost for guests | Everyone buys a gift | Free for guests |
| Plus-ones and new hires | Watch from the side | Join as easily as anyone |
| Setup | Gift rules and wrapping | Pick prompts and show a QR code |
Example Prompts for Holiday Party Icebreaker
Taken from the Office Holiday Party template. Use them as a starting point, then adapt them to your group.
Make people move
Start prompts with "Find someone who…" so each one sends players across the room to a new person, not back to their own table.
Mix easy and deeper prompts
Open with quick, observable prompts (something they're wearing, where they're from), then add a few that lead to a real story.
Keep them inclusive
Avoid prompts about money, looks, or anything someone could feel left out of. Everyone should be able to answer at least half of them.
Match the length of your event
Around 12–16 prompts fits a 30-minute game. More prompts than time just leaves people unfinished.
- 1
Find someone who has a holiday tradition you've never heard of and ask them how it started
- 2
Find someone from a different team and ask them about the highlight of their year
- 3
Find someone who is travelling over the holidays and ask them where they're headed
- 4
Find someone who makes a signature holiday dish and ask them for the secret ingredient
- 5
Find someone who joined the company this year and ask them what surprised them most
- 6
Find someone who came with a plus-one and ask their guest how they'd describe your company
- 7
Find someone who is wearing something festive and ask them about their favorite holiday memory
- 8
Find someone who has a New Year's resolution planned and ask them what it is
- 9
Find someone who celebrates the holidays differently than you and ask them what they love about it
- 10
Find someone who worked on a project you didn't know about and ask them what they're proud of
- 11
Find someone who has a favorite holiday movie or song and ask them why it's the one
- 12
Find someone who is taking time off and ask them what they're most looking forward to
See all 15 prompts in the Office Holiday Party template · Browse all templates
Other Platforms Like Jam Bingo
Jam Bingo is designed to help people actually get to know each other, not just exchange names. Unlike icebreaker games that focus on quick interactions or surface-level fun, Jam Bingo is built around meaningful conversations that make it easier for people to open up, find common ground, and build real relationships.
| Features | Jam Bingo | Hoogo | SocialPoint.io | Booth Bingo | Eventgamification.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paperless (QR Code Digital) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Branding | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Conversation Prompt | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Meaningful & Intentional Connections | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Contact Sharing (Email, Instagram, Linkedin, etc) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Each person gets a list of everyone they connected with, including contact information and conversations they had. | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Introduction Forum | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Introductions ("Introduce Me") | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good icebreaker game for an office holiday party?
One that everyone can join at once and that gets people talking across teams. Jam Bingo sends festive prompts to guests' phones, like 'Find someone who has the best holiday recipe and ask for the secret ingredient,' and each conversation unlocks the next prompt.
How do you keep a holiday party icebreaker inclusive?
Use prompts about 'holiday traditions' or 'end-of-year celebrations' rather than one specific holiday, and avoid prompts about spending money or drinking.
Does it work for large company holiday parties?
Yes. Every guest plays on their own phone, so it works the same for 30 guests or 2,000 with no extra setup.
Can partners and plus-ones play?
Yes. Anyone can join by scanning the QR code with just their name, which helps plus-ones meet people too.
When should we run it during the party?
As guests arrive and before dinner or speeches — the first 30–45 minutes, when people are standing around with a drink.
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