Creating a memorable event experience goes beyond great speakers and sessions—it’s about fostering connections between attendees. Icebreaker activities are the perfect solution to spark conversations and encourage attendees to connect in a relaxed setting. They create fun, interactive ways to break down initial awkwardness and help guests mingle effortlessly. Use these simple but effective icebreakers to energize your attendees and make your event a memorable networking success!
Two Truths and a Lie
Help attendees get to know each other better by playing a friendly game of Two Truths and a Lie. Each participant will make three statements about themselves. Two of them will be truths, and the third will be a lie. The other attendees will determine which ones are true and which are lies. As the game continues, it encourages interaction and conversation among the attendees.
Human Bingo
Give each attendee a bingo card with a series of facts. Then, host a cocktail hour where people bring their bingo cards along. They check off the bingo card boxes as they get to know each other. Each box will have a fact that could be about one or more of the attendees. The person’s name gets written in each box until Bingo is achieved. The facts could be any type of description, from professional to fun.
- Has worked in the industry for over 15 years.
- Has traveled to three continents.
- Has two sisters.
- Has a (Make and Model) vehicle.
Interactive Polling
There may not be an opportunity for individual networking or collaboration for large events. Live polling encourages attendees to learn about each other as a collective whole. It can also enhance speaker presentations with real-time information about the audience. Some of the questions can be related to presentations and events. Other questions can be informational about the audience members. Finally, include some fun questions that can allow people to laugh.
Table Trivia
Allow event attendees to collaborate and learn about each other while playing a game. Trivia is a perfect icebreaker because it challenges attendees to showcase their knowledge. They also must work as a team to compete, depending on each other to know the right answer.
Team Building Relay Races
Get your attendees up and moving by playing a game of relay races. Set up silly tasks in a relay race format to keep things fun and light-hearted. Divide attendees into groups and have them race each other for prizes. This will bring out a sense of competition in your attendees and encourage teamwork.
‘Find Your Match’ Challenge
Give your networking hour a boost by hosting a Find Your Match challenge. As attendees mingle and network, they will also attempt to find the other half of the famous duo they’ve been assigned. This game is helpful because you can encourage attendees to interact with people they may never have chosen to network with.
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Batman and Robin
- Mario and Luigi
- Bert and Ernie
- Sponge Bob and Patrick
- Shrek and Donkey
- Han Solo and Chewie
- Kermit and Miss Piggy
Group Art Project
A group art project is the perfect solution for creative industries or social events to encourage attendees to collaborate. You could display a large blank canvas, giving attendees free rein to paint or draw their contributions. Another option is to have a paint-by-numbers canvas where attendees choose a number and then paint a portion corresponding to their assigned number.
Networking Scavenger Hunt
When you host an event in New York City, you have a unique opportunity to host a scavenger hunt. Divide the event attendees into smaller groups and send them on a scavenger hunt to explore the city. For larger events like The Event Planner Expo, the entire scavenger hunt can take place within the event. The items on the list of things to find should include a combination of items.
- Event themed items
- Industry themed items
- Tasks to encourage interaction
- New York City icons
‘Would You Rather?’
Let event attendees get to know each other better by playing a game called Would You Rather. Keep the questions on the theme for the event. If it is a professional event, they could present industry-relevant scenarios. Debate and interaction will ensue as attendees make their choices and give their answers.
Emoji Introductions
Digital events that are entirely online present a harder challenge for event guest engagement. Without direct human interaction, it is harder for people to connect. Instead of hosting a complicated system of smaller break-out groups, try doing emoji introductions. Have attendees choose three emojis that they think represent who they are. Then, have attendees explain why they chose those emojis. Some will be sentimental, others logical. It will also break down barriers with laughter and mutual connections.
Discover More Event Engagement Inspiration at The Expo
Incorporating icebreaker activities into your event energizes attendees and fosters lasting connections that can elevate the entire experience. Whether it's sparking laughter with "Two Truths and a Lie" or encouraging collaboration with a "Group Art Project," these fun activities are key to engaging your guests. At The Event Planner Expo, you'll get insider tips on creating unforgettable networking moments and learn firsthand how to boost attendee interaction.
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