20 Best Virtual New Year's Eve Party Ideas for 2024

Staying home this NYE? Ring in 2024 with your loved ones, virtually!

Brittany Barber

Contributor

Photo credit: Chinh Le Duc/Unsplash

So, you're having a virtual New Year's Eve Zoom party to ring in 2024? We love that for you. In fact, we love it so much, that we're going to make sure it's a banger. How? By providing you with these virtual New Year's Eve party ideas , virtual entertainment and online activities, duh!

Since you can't do the usual, room-to-room mingling during a virtual party, plan something fun to do to keep the night exciting. From hiring virtual entertainment to choosing a New Year's Eve Zoom background, we've made sure to cover all aspects of your virtual party. Here are our tips on how to throw a virtual New Year's Eve Zoom party.

1. Send an Exciting NYE Invitation

You'll want to formally invite all of your loved ones to your virtual New Year's Eve party, whether that's with an email or an old-fashioned letter. If you really want to do something special, you could even send virtual singing telegrams to give your virtual party guests the details! You could also amp up the excitement with an Evite by sending out updates leading up to the big event to build anticipation such as a signature cocktail recipe, NYE playlist, snaps of decorations and a link to choose a virtual background.

2. Choose a New Year's Zoom Background

New Year's Eve virtual background

If Zoom is your video calling app of choice, then you probably already know that a necessity for any virtual party these days is a Zoom background! We have 36 New Year's Zoom backgrounds you can download, along with instructions on how to change your Zoom background. Each Zoom image is hi-res and free to download, so don't hesitate to pick more than one! 

3. Decorate Your Space with New Year's Decorations

New Years's Eve Virtual Party  DecorationsPhoto: Katty Sever/Canva.com

Along with your Zoom background, you're going to want to elevate your virtual party experience with the right decor. So get those streamers, balloons, and all things with sequins to deck your virtual party space out! 

4. Get Dressed Up

New Years's Eve Virtual Party OutfitPhoto: Look Studio/Shutterstock.com

Just because this New Year's Eve is virtual, doesn't mean you shouldn't dress up. Get out your best holiday attire, your party hats, and a wild amount of glitter — and get ready to kiss 2021 goodbye.

5. Have a Virtual Dance Party

New Years's Eve Virtual Dance Party with Disco BallPhoto: M_Agency/Shutterstock.com

What better way to greet the arrival of a new year than with a virtual dance party? But before you put on your dancing shoes, have a look at our guide on how to throw a virtual dance party for a 10/10 digital experience!

Bonus: We've also put together this New Years' Eve Playlist to help you out.

6. Hire a Caricaturist

New Year’s Eve Party Ideas - CaricaturesPhoto: Jason Wilkins, caricaturist from Toronto.

Invite a virtual caricaturist to draw portraits of your virtual guests, so they'll have something special to remember this New Year's eve.

7. Put on a Magic Show

Hiring a professional magician to put on a virtual show is a great way to have fun this New Year's Eve, especially if you expect kids to be taking part in the virtual festivities.

8. Look into the Future

Let a fortune teller tell you and your guests what the future holds for 2023. 

9. Hire an Elvis Impersonator

 New Years's Eve Virtual Party Elvis ImpersaonatorPhoto: Elvis Tribute Artist - Michael Paul Callahan

If you've got any loved ones who are into Elvis — hire a virtual Elvis Impersonator to make a guest appearance at your virtual New Year's Eve Zoom party! 

10. Make New Year Resolutions

Go around the virtual circle and tell each other what you want to do differently in 2023. It may seem cheesy to some, but it's a great way to break the ice and reconnect with your loved ones. You might be surprised at what you learn about one another!

New Years's Eve Virtual Party GamesPhoto: Vesna Cvorovic/Shutterstock.com

11. Share a Slideshow

Put together a slideshow of highlights from 2023 or of past NYE party pics. If you'd like to amp it up with contributions from your guests, mention it in your invites and ask if anyone has any photos they'd like to add. 

12. Play New Year's Trivia

Play a few rounds of trivia to test your knowledge of how wild 2021 truly was. Feel free to get creative and make your own trivia game — with inside jokes and fun facts about your guests, of course. If you're pressed for time, make it simple by asking a variety of trivia questions that you can find online. 

13. Sign onto Jackbox Games

Oh, Jackbox. I don't know about you, but Jackbox has been a staple for my virtual gatherings and celebrations. Each version has a variety of games in each, but our personal favorite is Jackbox Party Pack 6. Have a look!

14. Times Square New Year Virtual Countdown

Time Square New Years's Eve Virtual Party Photo: Countdown Entertainment, LLC

Make sure your virtual party is ready for the countdown! Whether you time it yourself, use a site like Time and Date, or watch along with New York City's live webcast of the Times Square virtual New Year festivities leading up to the ball drop

15. Mix New Year's Cocktails

New Years's Eve Virtual Party CocktailsPhoto: Maksym Fesenko/Shutterstock.com

It's New Year's Eve. You're going to have to enjoy a cocktail or two! If you're on the hunt for inspiration, check out these delicious holiday cocktail recipes. Pick your favorite recipe, and include it in your New Year's Eve party invitation — so your whole party can enjoy a drink together!

You could even hire a bartender to host a mini virtual workshop, so your guests can learn how to mix their own drinks during your NYE Zoom gathering.

16. New Year's Party Food

New Years's Eve Virtual Party FoodPhoto: Foxeslovelemons.com

Don't forget to enjoy your beverage with a festive appetizer while you anticipate the stroke of midnight! 

17. New Year's Virtual Toast

New Years's Eve Virtual Party Toast at Midnight Photo: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com

You're going to want to raise a glass when the clock strikes midnight. As the party host, make it extra special by preparing a brief toast to show your appreciation towards your friends and family.

18. Light Sparklers

New Years's Eve Virtual Party Sparklers at MidnightPhoto: Elaine Nadiv/Shutterstock.com

Include a ceremonial lighting of sparklers to make everyone feel extra sparkly in front of their webcams. P.S. Don't forget to tell them to have some on hand in the party invitation.

19. Virtual Balloon Drop

Or surprise your guests with a virtual balloon drop. Set up a net filled with balloons above your camera and release them at midnight for a fun and festive moment that will have your guests LOL. For something on the simpler side, toss streamers or confetti to celebrate.

20. Sing Auld Lang Syne

The singing of Auld Lang Syne is a tried and true New Year’s Eve tradition. Cue the song up on Spotify or ask a talented guest to lead the singalong— distribute the lyrics to your guests so everyone can join in.

Bonus: For more activities to do at your virtual New Year's Eve party, take a peek at these 43 virtual party ideas!  Plus, we've got more than 6,000 vendors nationwide providing online services for virtual events.

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About Brittany Barber

Brittany Barber, lover of books, dogs, and romance, graduated from Bishop’s University with a Communications and Theatre degree. After spending some time working abroad in the theatre world, she is now a freelance writer covering a range of lifestyle topics including event planning for The Bash, WeddingWire, 2life and Fluttr, and shopping for BuzzFeed and Narcity.