Christmas Party Ideas 2026: 15 Ideas for Your Company Christmas Party

• Dining: Christmas dinner at a restaurant, fondue chalet, fondue tram, dinner show, murder mystery dinner, team cooking
• Active: curling (Eisstockschiessen), curling, night sledging, snowshoeing, escape room
• Creative and special: tasting, ice carving, Christmas market, celebration in your own office

Many teams combine two ideas: an activity in the late afternoon, followed by a meal together.

The Christmas dinner remains the heart of most celebrations. With the right setting, it becomes more than just an evening meal.

The classic works for any team size, as long as the room suits: small teams sit well at one long table, while from around 30 people onwards, it's worth booking a private room so you're not seated among other guests. Ask about a fixed Christmas menu, it saves time ordering and makes costs easier to plan.

You'll find Christmas dinner locations in Zurich, Basel, Lucerne, Winterthur and in the Canton of Bern, or in the overview for the whole of Switzerland.

In winter, many hosts set up chalets, huts, and pop-ups where you can enjoy fondue or raclette together. It's sociable, uncomplicated, and works for almost any budget. A special example in Zurich is Gondola Island: from 31 October 2026 to 14 February 2027, groups of four to eight people sit in decorated original ski gondolas on the lakeside terrace of the Lake Side.

All fondue and raclette offers for the Christmas party

Dining and a city tour in one: the Zurich Fondue Tram runs from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 as the Graubünden Edition, featuring fondue made with Graubünden mountain cheese, Graubünden air-dried meat, and nut tart. Vegetarian and vegan guests can enjoy capuns. A great choice for smaller teams wanting a typically Zurich experience.

At a dinner show, courses and stage performances alternate, so there's nothing for you to organise yourself. The Castello Variety Theatre on the Thun Allmend presents acrobatics, comedy, and poetry alongside a 3-course menu from 27 November to 31 December 2026, with special packages available for companies. In Basel, Palazzo Colombino combines a 4-course menu with international variety entertainment in a mirror tent.

All Christmas shows in Switzerland

At a murder mystery dinner, the team becomes the detectives: clues appear between courses, and by the end, the case is solved. This also gets colleagues talking who rarely interact during the working day.

Murder mystery dinner providers in Switzerland

Instead of being served, you cook the Christmas menu together, guided by a professional, and then enjoy it as a group. Team cooking is particularly suited to teams who want to get to know each other better, as everyone works together towards a shared goal.

Team cooking and cooking courses for companies

Those who get moving before dinner will have more to talk about afterwards. These ideas work well even with teams that aren't especially sporty.

Ice stock sport is quick to explain, requires no prior experience, and pairs well with mulled wine and an apéro. Ideal as a warm-up before heading to the Christmas dinner.

Ice stock sport for companies

A bit more sporty and tactical than ice stock sport: at a fun curling session, coaches show you the basics, after which you play against each other in small teams.

Curling as a team event

Up by cable car, down by headlamp or on a floodlit slope, followed by fondue in the hut: night sledging is one of the most popular winter ideas, but it does require snow. Plan a backup date or a bad-weather alternative.

Sledging and night sledging

Calmer than sledging and achievable for almost everyone: a guided snowshoe tour, often with a stop at a mountain hut. Great for teams who want to spend the year-end deliberately outdoors.

Snowshoeing with your team

In an escape room, you solve puzzles in small groups against the clock. This works regardless of the weather and can be combined with a meal nearby. For larger teams, several groups play in parallel.

Escape rooms in Switzerland

For teams who've already tried everything, or for smaller groups looking for something more personal.

Wine, whisky, beer, or chocolate: at a guided tasting, you'll learn something new while sampling together. Works well as an apéro programme before the Christmas dinner.

Tastings and sampling events

A sculpture emerges from a block of ice under guided instruction. Ice carving is unusual, works well in groups, and provides great photos for internal communications.

Ice carving as a team event

A shared stroll through the Christmas market with mulled wine is affordable and needs almost no organising. Best as a starter, followed by a visit to a restaurant or chalet.

Christmas markets in Switzerland

For smaller budgets or teams who don't want to travel far: with a caterer, some decorations, and music, the office becomes a party venue. The advantage: you're flexible with timing, and there's no venue hire to pay.

Catering providers in Switzerland

Team size: fondue gondolas, trams, and tastings are ideal for small teams. From around 30 people, you'll need a private room or a format that works in parallel groups, such as an escape room or ice stock sport. Our guide to Christmas parties by team size shows you how to find the right location for any team size.

Budget: options range from an apéro in the office to an experience-filled evening with a show. For an idea of the costs per person, see our guide What does a corporate Christmas party cost?

Planning: popular dates in December are booked up early. Our Christmas party checklist guides you step by step through the organisation process.