20+ Fun Virtual Christmas Activities To Celebrate Together

The holidays are a time for connection, laughter, and a little festive magic—but distance doesn’t have to get in the way. With thoughtful virtual Christmas activities, you can bring together friends, family, and colleagues, creating joyful moments no matter where they are. 

From playful online Christmas games for adults to cozy shared experiences, these ideas spark holiday cheer and keep everyone engaged. Whether you're coordinating Xmas office activities for remote teams or planning a casual gathering, the right approach turns any remote event into a memorable festive experience.

20+ Virtual Christmas Activities Ideas to Celebrate the Holidays

1. Digital Secret Santa Reveal

One of the most engaging virtual Christmas activities for work, Digital Secret Santa maintains the personal touch of traditional gift-giving for remote teams.

• How It Works:

Using free online tools like Elfster or DrawNames to randomly assign gift recipients while keeping matches confidential. Participants can choose between digital gifts (e-gift cards, streaming subscriptions, online course access) or physical items shipped directly to recipients' homes. The best office Christmas gifts typically balance personalization with practicality for remote exchanges.

• Make It Memorable:

Host a live Zoom reveal where participants open gifts on camera. Add competitive elements, "most creative," "best wrapped," "funniest gift", and encourage live reactions to replicate the in-person energy that makes this online Christmas game truly special.

2. Virtual Holiday Trivia

Test your team's festive knowledge with holiday trivia, a competitive virtual Christmas activity that sparks laughter and friendly rivalry among remote colleagues.

• How It Works: 

Prepare 15-20 questions covering Christmas movies, holiday songs, global traditions, and quirky seasonal facts. Use interactive platforms like Kahoot, Quizizz, or Zoom polls to let participants answer in real-time, automatically tracking scores and maintaining competitive energy.

• Boost Engagement: 

Mix difficulty levels to keep everyone involved, from easy questions ("What color is Rudolph's nose?") to challenging ones ("Which country started the Christmas tree tradition?"). Add bonus rounds where participants sing a carol line or share their family's unique tradition for extra points.

3. Online Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Bring energy and spontaneity to your screen with a holiday scavenger hunt, one of the most interactive online Christmas games for Zoom that gets everyone moving.

• How It Works: 

Create a list of 10-15 festive items before the call, ornaments, candy canes, something red and green, a holiday mug, or ugliest sweater. Give participants 60 seconds per item to find and show it on camera. Award points for speed, creativity, or the most unusual interpretation.

• Level It Up: 

For larger teams, use Zoom breakout rooms to create competing squads. Add riddle-based challenges ("Find something that jingles but isn't a bell") or bonus categories like "most creative holiday decoration" to encourage playful competition and storytelling.

4. Virtual Christmas Charades

A classic party game reimagined for video calls, Christmas charades transforms any remote gathering into an entertaining online Christmas game for adults filled with laughter and creative acting.

• How It Works: 

Prepare 20-30 holiday-themed prompts, Christmas movies ("Elf," "Home Alone"), festive actions (decorating a tree, wrapping presents), or seasonal phrases ("Jingle all the way"). Share prompts privately via chat or use a random generator. Each player acts out their prompt on camera while others guess within 60-90 seconds.

• Make It Hilarious: 

Introduce themed rounds like "Reindeer Antics" or "Santa's Workshop Chaos" with bonus points for dramatic performances. The beauty of this virtual Christmas activity is watching normally reserved colleagues transform into animated performers, creating memorable moments that strengthen team bonds.

5. Holiday Bingo

Holiday bingo brings festive excitement to video calls through this simple yet engaging online Christmas activity that works for any group size or dynamic.

• How It Works: 

Create bingo cards filled with holiday-themed items or actions—wearing a Santa hat, showing twinkling lights, displaying a favorite ornament, or having a pet photobomb. Use free tools like BingoBaker or MyFreeBingoCards to generate unique cards for each participant. Call out items during your video call and watch players scramble to spot or perform them.

• Add Creative Twists: 

Include action squares that require participation: "sing one line of a carol," "show your ugliest sweater," or "share a childhood Christmas memory." First to complete a row wins, but keep playing for full-card blackout to maintain energy throughout your virtual Christmas party.

6. Digital Ornament Decorating

Unleash creativity with a digital ornament design competition, a surprisingly engaging virtual Christmas game for work that reveals hidden artistic talents across your team.

• How It Works: 

Participants design festive ornaments using free tools like Canva, Figma, or simple drawing apps on their phones. Set a 15-minute creation window and a theme—"winter wonderland," "retro Christmas," or "company mascot holiday edition." Everyone shares their finished design on screen while explaining their creative choices.

• Create Friendly Competition: 

Use Zoom polls for live voting across categories: "most creative," "best use of color," "funniest design," or "would actually buy this." The combination of time pressure, creative freedom, and peer recognition makes this virtual Christmas activity surprisingly addictive, even for non-designers. Teams returning to office can print winning designs as DIY Christmas office decorations, transforming digital creations into physical workspace elements.

7. Virtual Gingerbread House Competition

Transform a beloved holiday tradition into a competitive virtual Christmas activity where participants build gingerbread houses at home and showcase them during a live video call. This online Christmas game for adults balances nostalgia with competition, creating shareable moments perfect for team bonding.

• How It Works: 

Send participants gingerbread house kits in advance or share a supply list (graham crackers work as budget-friendly alternatives). Set a building window—either 30 minutes live on Zoom or a few days before with a reveal deadline. Establish playful themes like "cozy cottage," "architectural disaster," or "candy overload" to guide creativity.

• Judge and Celebrate: 

Have participants present their creations with a 30-second "architect's pitch" explaining their design choices. Vote using Zoom polls across categories: "structural integrity," "most festive," "most likely to collapse," or "would live there." Winners can display their gingerbread creations as temporary Christmas office desk decorations when returning to the workplace, extending the celebration beyond the virtual event.

8. Festive Virtual Cocktail or Hot Cocoa Toast

Kick off your remote celebration with a relaxed virtual Christmas party idea for work where everyone raises a seasonal drink, shares stories, and connects over shared festive moments.

• How It Works: 

Ask participants to prepare their favorite holiday beverage, spiced hot cocoa, festive mocktails, eggnog, or classic mulled wine, before joining the video call. Start with a collective toast, then invite everyone to describe what makes their drink special: family recipe, creative twist, or nostalgic memory attached to it.

• Add Interactive Elements: 

Turn it into a casual competition by voting on "most festive mug," "most elaborate garnish," or "drink we'd most want to try." This works beautifully as an icebreaker for larger virtual Christmas activities for work, creating a warm, informal atmosphere that helps remote teams relax before diving into structured games.

9. Holiday-Themed Virtual Storytelling

Bring warmth and nostalgia to your screen with collaborative storytelling, an online Christmas activity that transforms individual memories into shared team experiences.

• How It Works: 

Each participant shares a brief holiday story—funny childhood memories, family traditions, or fictional Christmas tales—during the video call. For a collaborative twist, start a story and have each person add one sentence, creating an unpredictable narrative that typically spirals into hilarious territory.

• Keep It Engaging: 

Set a 2-3 minute time limit per story to maintain pace. Encourage authentic, personal stories over polished presentations—the raw, genuine moments create stronger connections. This virtual Christmas game for work works especially well for teams who want deeper engagement beyond surface-level holiday activities.

10. Virtual Holiday Pictionary

Turn artistic skills (or lack thereof) into entertainment with Holiday Pictionary, a fast-paced online Christmas game for Zoom that guarantees laughter regardless of drawing ability.

• How It Works: 

Use Zoom's whiteboard feature or dedicated platforms like Skribbl.io or Drawasaurus for smoother gameplay. Prepare 30-40 Christmas prompts—"snowman," "candy cane," "reindeer," "trimming the tree"—ranging from easy to challenging. Players take 60-second turns drawing while others shout guesses through unmuted mics, creating chaotic, energetic fun.

• Maximize the Chaos: 

Award points for correct guesses and bonus points for the worst drawings that still get guessed. The beauty of this virtual Christmas activity lies in watching skilled artists and stick-figure drawers compete on equal footing, with terrible drawings often generating more laughs than perfect ones.

11. Christmas Memory Lane Slideshow

Bridge past and present with a nostalgic photo-sharing activity, one of the most personal virtual Christmas party ideas for work that deepens team connections through authentic storytelling.

• How It Works: 

Ask participants to submit 1-2 photos from past holidays in advance—childhood Christmas mornings, awkward family portraits, vintage decorations, or treasured traditions. Compile submissions into a slideshow without names. During the call, display each photo while the team guesses whose memory it captures before revealing the owner and hearing the story behind it.

• Create Meaningful Moments: 

Encourage genuine stories over polished narratives—the embarrassing haircuts, failed baking attempts, and quirky family traditions resonate more than perfect moments. This virtual Christmas game for work transforms colleagues into real people with shared experiences, building empathy and connection that extends beyond the holiday season.

12. Virtual Ugly Sweater Contest

Celebrate questionable fashion choices with an ugly sweater competition, a visual virtual Christmas activity that brings immediate laughter the moment cameras turn on.

• How It Works: 

Announce the contest a week in advance so participants can hunt thrift stores or craft DIY disasters. During the video call, each person gets 30 seconds to model their sweater with a runway walk or pose. Use Zoom polls for live voting across categories: "most creative," "store-bought monstrosity," "best DIY effort," or "would actually wear this."

• Amp Up the Fun: 

Encourage backstories—where they found it, what inspired the creation, or how much their family hates it. The combination of hideous knitwear and genuine enthusiasm makes this online Christmas game for adults an instant mood-lifter that requires zero skill but maximum confidence.

13. Holiday Movie Watch Party

Bring the cinema experience home with synchronized streaming, a relaxed virtual Christmas activity perfect for teams who want low-pressure bonding over beloved classics.

• How It Works:

 Use platforms like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party), Amazon Prime Watch Party, or Disney+ GroupWatch to sync playback across all participants. Choose a universally loved film—"Elf," "Home Alone," "The Grinch"—and set a start time. The built-in chat feature lets everyone react in real-time without talking over dialogue.

• Enhance the Experience: 

Schedule 2-3 pause breaks for quick trivia questions about the movie, awarding points for correct answers. This transforms passive watching into an interactive online Christmas game for Zoom that appeals to introverts and extroverts alike, requiring minimal energy while still creating shared moments.

14. Christmas Carol Karaoke

Unleash hidden (or tone-deaf) singers with holiday karaoke, a performance-based virtual Christmas game for work that strips away inhibitions through the power of festive music.

• How It Works: 

Use YouTube karaoke instrumentals or dedicated apps like Smule or KaraFun for better audio quality. Create a song list mixing classics ("Jingle Bells," "All I Want for Christmas") with modern hits ("Last Christmas," "Underneath the Tree"). Participants volunteer or get randomly selected, performing solo or in brave duets while others provide enthusiastic virtual applause.

• Lower the Stakes: 

Make it judgment-free by celebrating enthusiasm over talent—award "most dramatic performance" or "best air guitar" instead of "best voice." The magic happens when the normally reserved accountant belts out Mariah Carey, creating memorable moments that become office legends.

15. Virtual White Elephant Gift Exchange

Bring strategic chaos to gift-giving with White Elephant, a virtual Christmas party idea for work that combines thoughtful presents with ruthless stealing mechanics.

• How It Works:

Set a $25 budget and have participants purchase gifts shipped to their own homes. Number each wrapped gift and create a randomized order for participants. The first person unwraps their gift on camera, describing it to everyone. Subsequent players choose to either unwrap a new gift or "steal" a previously opened one (typically limited to 2-3 steals per gift before it's "frozen").

• Maximize Drama: 

Encourage creative gift descriptions and theatrical reactions to steals. The combination of surprise reveals, strategic decisions, and friendly betrayal makes this online Christmas activity more entertaining than traditional Secret Santa, especially when that coveted gift gets stolen in the final round.

16. Holiday Photo Booth Challenge

Transform home spaces into festive photo studios with a DIY backdrop competition, a creative virtual Christmas activity that showcases personality and resourcefulness.

• How It Works: 

Give participants 10-15 minutes to create a holiday backdrop using household items—string lights, wrapping paper, ornaments, bedsheets, or cardboard cutouts. They then strike poses with improvised props (Santa hats, tinsel, stuffed animals) while others screenshot their best moments. Share all photos in a group chat for voting.

• Add Competition: 

Award categories like "most festive setup," "funniest pose," "best use of household junk," or "would pay for this background." This online Christmas game for adults reveals who's secretly creative and who's hilariously resourceful, generating shareable content that participants will post on personal social media.

17. Virtual Advent Calendar Surprise

Build anticipation throughout December with daily digital surprises, an extended virtual Christmas activity for work that maintains engagement beyond a single event.

• How It Works: 

Assign each team member a date in December to create a short surprise—funny video message, holiday joke, childhood photo, favorite recipe, or inspirational quote. Share submissions in a dedicated Slack channel or through scheduled email reveals. Host weekly 15-minute Zoom check-ins to discuss favorite surprises and maintain connection.

• Make It Meaningful: 

Encourage authentic, personal content over polished productions. The daily ritual of discovering what colleague will share next creates ongoing festive energy that traditional one-time parties can't replicate, perfect for distributed teams across time zones.

18. Holiday Talent Show

Showcase hidden abilities with a festive talent showcase, a performance-driven virtual Christmas game for work where colleagues reveal surprising skills beyond their job descriptions.

• How It Works: 

Invite participants to prepare 3-5 minute acts with holiday themes—singing carols, magic tricks, comedy sketches, instrument performances, or even pet tricks. Create a running order and designate someone as emcee to introduce each act. Encourage creative interpretations: the marketing manager who juggles ornaments or the developer who performs stand-up about debugging holiday code.

• Celebrate Every Act: 

Focus on enthusiasm over polish—amateur performances often generate more genuine connection than professional-level acts. Use reaction emojis liberally and award playful titles like "most unexpected talent" or "best use of props" to ensure everyone feels celebrated.

19. Christmas Around the World

Expand cultural perspectives with global holiday traditions, an educational online Christmas activity that transforms remote diversity into enriching team knowledge.

• How It Works: 

Assign each participant a country to research, focusing on unique Christmas traditions—Iceland's Yule Lads, Japan's KFC Christmas dinners, Venezuela's roller-skating church services, or Austria's Krampus celebrations. Each person presents for 3-4 minutes with visuals, sharing surprising facts and cultural context.

• Make It Interactive: 

After each presentation, others guess which tradition they'd most want to experience. This virtual Christmas activity for work works especially well for international teams, allowing members to share their own cultural practices alongside researched traditions, building cross-cultural understanding through festive learning.

20. Virtual Gift Wrapping Race

Test dexterity and creativity under pressure with a timed wrapping challenge, a chaotic online Christmas game for Zoom that proves some people should never wrap their own presents.

• How It Works: 

Participants gather oddly-shaped household items—stuffed animals, kitchen utensils, stacks of books, potted plants—along with wrapping paper, tape, and scissors. Set a 3-minute timer and watch everyone frantically wrap on camera. Judge completed packages on "structural integrity," "aesthetic appeal," "most creative approach," or "most likely to fool a recipient."

• Embrace the Chaos: 

The entertainment comes from watching confident wrappers struggle with impossible shapes while self-proclaimed "bad wrappers" surprise everyone with ingenious solutions. This virtual Christmas party idea for work requires no special skills but guarantees laughter when someone's package explodes mid-presentation.

21. Holiday Meme Creation Contest

Channel internet humor into festive competition with meme-making, a modern online Christmas game for adults that speaks the language of contemporary workplace culture.

• How It Works: 

Use free meme generators like Imgflip or Kapwing to create Christmas-themed memes about remote work, holiday stress, team inside jokes, or seasonal chaos. Give participants 10-15 minutes to create 1-3 memes, then share them screen-by-screen during the call. Vote using Zoom polls for "most relatable," "funniest," "darkest humor," or "should be our official team meme."

• Hit the Right Tone: 

Encourage self-deprecating humor over mean-spirited jokes. The best memes capture shared frustrations—Zoom fatigue, holiday shopping panic, family dinner diplomacy—turning collective stress into bonding moments through laughter.

22. Festive Virtual Escape Room

Solve Christmas mysteries collaboratively with online escape rooms, a puzzle-driven virtual Christmas activity that demands teamwork, logic, and creative thinking under time pressure.

• How It Works: 

Book holiday-themed escape rooms from platforms like The Escape Game, Enchambered, or Puzzle Break that support remote teams. Divide larger groups into breakout rooms of 4-6 people to tackle puzzles simultaneously. Facilitators guide teams through Christmas narratives, saving Santa's workshop, recovering stolen presents, or escaping a winter lodge, with 60 minutes to solve interconnected clues.

• Foster Collaboration: 

Escape rooms naturally reveal team dynamics: who leads, who notices details, who thinks laterally. This virtual Christmas game for work doubles as team-building, creating shared accomplishment when groups successfully escape and good-natured commiseration when time runs out.

23. Holiday Gratitude Circle

Close the year with meaningful reflection through structured gratitude sharing, a heartfelt virtual Christmas party idea for work that prioritizes connection over entertainment.

• How It Works: 

Create a safe, judgment-free space where each person shares 1-2 things they're grateful for—specific teammates who helped them, work accomplishments they're proud of, or personal blessings from the year. Set a 2-minute limit per person to maintain flow while allowing genuine expression. Leaders should participate authentically, setting the tone for vulnerability.

• Balance Emotion and Comfort: 

This works best with established teams who have rapport. For newer groups, provide categories like "professional gratitude" or "something that made you laugh this year" to reduce pressure. The sincerity of this virtual Christmas activity creates emotional closure for the year, often generating more lasting impact than flashy games.

FAQs

What Christmas games can you play over Zoom?

You can play a variety of virtual Christmas activities over Zoom, including trivia, charades, Bingo, scavenger hunts, and holiday-themed Pictionary. These games keep participants engaged, encourage interaction, and work well for friends, family, or colleagues.

What are some fun Christmas games you can play online?

You can enjoy online holiday favorites like trivia, Bingo, scavenger hunts, Pictionary, charades, or a digital Secret Santa, all popular and effective virtual Christmas activities.

What is the Candy Cane Christmas game?

The Candy Cane Christmas game is a playful challenge where participants balance or transfer candy canes using a spoon or string within a time limit. In a remote setting, players perform the task on camera while others cheer and track points. 

How to do a remote Christmas party?

To host a remote Christmas party, plan engaging virtual Christmas activities like online trivia, storytelling, or gift exchanges. Send invites, set a schedule, and use video platforms such as Zoom or Teams.

What is the Cotton Ball game for Christmas?

The Cotton Ball game involves moving cotton balls from one container to another using only a spoon or straw. For virtual play, participants complete the challenge on camera while points are awarded for speed or creativity.

How can remote teams do a Secret Santa online?

Use an online draw tool to assign gift recipients anonymously, and set a date for a live video reveal — participants can give e‑gift cards or mailed presents so everyone shares the surprise together. During the call, each person shows their gift, shares a short story or clue, and unwraps live to capture the moment.

Are virtual Christmas party games appropriate for large groups?

Yes,  many games like trivia, Bingo, or holiday-themed quizzes scale well for large groups. Platforms with breakout‑room functionality or team‑based play make it easy to manage dozens of participants. 

What equipment or tools do I need for online Christmas activities?

For most virtual Christmas activities, you just need a video‑call app (Zoom, Teams, etc.), a stable internet connection, and optionally tools for quizzes (Kahoot, Quizizz), Bingo (BingoBaker), or digital design apps for creative activities.

Conclusion: Making Virtual Christmas Celebrations Stick

The best virtual Christmas activities for work don't require elaborate production—they need authentic interaction. Your remote team craves permission to be playful, space to be genuine, and structured opportunities to connect beyond daily tasks.

The real success measure? When colleagues reference these online Christmas games for Zoom months later—the charades inside jokes, the gingerbread disasters, the unexpected talent show moments. These shared memories prove distance can't diminish celebration quality.

While online celebrations build connection, sending tangible gifts reinforces appreciation. Consider desk gifts for enhancing home office setups, computer gifts for tech-savvy team members, or browse gender neutral Christmas gifts when shopping for diverse teams. For more personalized selections, explore Christmas gifts for women or the best Christmas gift for men based on individual preferences.

This holiday season, choose three virtual Christmas party ideas for work that match your team's energy, send the invites, and transform your screens into spaces of genuine connection. Your remote colleagues deserve these moments of joy—and these 25+ activities deliver exactly that.