SUGAR & RIND
Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment and Activities: A Founder’s Guide (2026)
17 August 2026
By Philippa Mackinnon, Founder, Sugar & Rind
Philly Mackinnon is the founder of Sugar & Rind, a luxury event planning company creating corporate and private celebrations across London, the Home Counties, the Cotswolds and Somerset. After 25 years working in events and sponsorship for organisations such as IMG, The Football Association and Havas, Philly set up Sugar & Rind to create next-level luxury events and parties for both the corporate and private markets.
Corporate Christmas Parties
Entertainment and activities are what people actually remember about a work Christmas party. The venue and the food set the scene, but it is the magician who made everyone gasp, the cocktail they learned to shake, or the casino table that got the whole office competing, bantering, and interacting in the way you want them to. In this guide, I’ve pulled together the entertainment and activities for adults that I think land best at corporate Christmas parties, and how to choose the right ones for your team.
Now this is the bit that I LOVE!! Nail it, and you’ve created something memorable that will stick in the minds of the party-goers forever. It’s all about choosing the right entertainer for the right moment. Ice-breakers and a gentle intro to the evening get people chatting. What about a mind-reader in a small format? Trust me, that’s really cool. Maybe the guests have seen shows, but pop a mind reader in a small room, and word will spread like wildfire that there’s something really cool going on over there. Then, just watch the queue start to form.
A roving band or a cool magician that’s easy on the eye gets folks warmed up early on as the evening builds towards the dancing. It’s those shared moments of laughter that relax your guests and put them in a good mood whilst they interact, imbibe and ease into the party. A few gaps in the entertainment can be important too. Give your guests time and space to enjoy their food and drink and then hit them with something when there’s been a short lull in the proceedings. Timing is everything, and it’s the pace of the entertainment that makes it a success.
How to Choose the Right Entertainment for a Corporate Party
For a corporate audience, the best entertainment is polished, inclusive and aligned to your people and your brand. Before booking anything, I think about three things: the make-up of the team (a young creative studio and a senior leadership team want very different evenings), the flow of the night (what suits the drinks reception is not what suits later on), and the venue (its space, sound limits and licence). Get those right, and the entertainment lifts the whole event rather than sitting awkwardly in the corner.
Christmas Party Entertainment Ideas
These are the entertainment options I return to most for corporate Christmas parties, because they consistently work.
Live music
Live music sets the tone like nothing else, from a jazz trio or acoustic act during the drinks reception to a band that fills the floor later in the evening. It brings energy and a sense of occasion, and it suits almost any party style.
A DJ
A great DJ with the right aura carries the energy through the night and reads the room, which makes them ideal for keeping a dance floor going, especially for younger or more social teams. A DJ also works beautifully after a band, to take the party into the small hours.
Roaming and interactive performers
Close-up magicians, aerialists, festive characters and other roaming performers create moments of surprise and delight between courses and during receptions. They are wonderful icebreakers and give guests something to talk about, without taking over the evening.
Immersive staging, lighting and theming
Sometimes the most powerful entertainment is the environment itself. Considered staging, lighting and theming can transform a space and make guests feel they have stepped somewhere else entirely, turning the whole party into the experience rather than relying on a single act.
For our event with Brown & Burke, we worked with an entertainment agency to choreograph a jaw-dropping Bollywood Show. The evening started with our Champagne Mirror Madames serving drinks whilst our Gold Mirror Men bounced around, taking photos with the guests. As the guests were led into dinner, they were preceded by our Dhol Drummers to whet the guests’ appetites and introduce the show to come. Between courses, various acts took to the stage to wow the guests with their artistry. There were Snake Charmers, Fire Eaters, Bollywood dancers and Belly Dancers. You name it, we had it! It was bonkers and dazzling, and the guests went wild. The evening ended with a drag queen DJ spinning a mixture of UK and Bollywood hits until the party closed at midnight. I think it’s safe to say that all will remember the party as a really fitting 25th Anniversary celebration for a very successful pharmaceutical company.
Work Christmas Party Activities for Adults
Activities give guests something to do beyond eating and drinking, and, just as importantly, they break the ice between people and teams who do not always work together. For an adult corporate crowd, these are the activities I am asked for most.
Cocktail and mixology masterclasses
A hosted masterclass with a skilled bartender is sociable, hands-on and a brilliant icebreaker, and everyone goes home having learned to make something. It works as a focal point early in the evening.
Casino tables
Casino tables are glamorous, sociable and a natural gathering point, drawing people together and adding a sense of occasion, with no real stakes and plenty of fun.
A silent disco
A silent disco is perfect for venues with sound restrictions, and it always gets people involved. It is playful, a little surreal, and a guaranteed talking point.
Interactive food and drink stations
From a Champagne bar to a festive street-food corner, interactive stations give guests something to gather around and keep the evening moving, while doubling as part of the catering.
Photo moments and installations
A well-designed photo moment or installation doubles as decoration and something guests love to capture and share, giving the party a gentle reach beyond the room.
Matching Entertainment and Activities to Your Team
The best programme is the one that fits your people. A relaxed, creative team will love a silent disco and roaming performers; a senior, client-facing group may prefer live music and a sophisticated cocktail experience. It is also worth keeping the evening inclusive, with activities that do not centre solely on alcohol so that everyone can join in. The aim is always for every guest to find their moment in the evening.
Here are my 2 top tips!
- Don’t forget the boring bit. Lots of power and good lighting. If that goes wrong, you might as well not have bothered to have the party! It’s embarrassing, and it spoils the moment entirely.
- Create an experience for every moment of the day or evening, with breaks that build towards the next entertainment piece. Pacing, timing and the right act for the right moment create a truly unique party that’s remembered long after the event has taken place.
Let Us Bring Your Christmas Party to Life
From booking the right performers to designing immersive entertainment and activities your team will remember, my team and I handle it all across London, the Home Counties, the Cotswolds, and Somerset. To start the conversation, get in touch or book a call with me, and do ask to see our Apres-Ski 2026 brochure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What entertainment works best at a corporate Christmas party?
A: A mix tends to work best: live music or a jazz trio for the reception, a DJ or band later in the evening, and roaming performers such as magicians or festive characters between courses. For a corporate audience, keep it polished, inclusive and aligned to your brand.
Q: What are good work Christmas party activities for adults?
A: Cocktail and mixology masterclasses, casino tables, a silent disco, interactive food and drink stations, and photo moments and installations all work well for an adult corporate crowd, giving guests something to do and helping different teams mix.
Q: What activities are good for an office Christmas party?
A: Activities that suit your space and do not rely on a large venue work best in an office, such as a cocktail masterclass, casino tables, a silent disco, or interactive food and drink stations, which can all be set up in a familiar space and still feel special.
Q: How do I choose entertainment for my team?
A: Consider the make-up of your team, the flow of the evening, and your venue’s space and sound limits. A relaxed, creative team may love a silent disco and roaming performers, while a senior, client-facing group may prefer live music and a refined cocktail experience.
Q: How can we keep the party inclusive?
A: Offer activities that do not centre solely on alcohol, provide an appealing range of non-alcoholic drinks, and choose entertainment everyone can enjoy, so every guest can take part and find their moment in the evening.
Q: Can you arrange the entertainment and activities for us?
A: Yes. We book performers and design immersive entertainment and activities as part of planning your party, across London, the Home Counties, the Cotswolds and Somerset.
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