20 Best Virtual New Year's Eve Party Ideas for 2024
Brittany Barber
Contributor
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
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
Photo: 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
Photo: 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
Photo: 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
Photo: 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
Photo: 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!
Photo: 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
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
Photo: 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
Photo: 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
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
Photo: 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.
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.