Getting your entertainment right can truly make or break the whole event. The right entertainment choice transforms a standard event into an experience that buzzes, lifting the spirits of everyone involved.
So, if your next corporate event is fast approaching and you’re scrambling for ideas, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got 40 of the best corporate entertainment ideas ready for you.
Let’s ditch the dull and make your next event one to remember!
What exactly is “corporate event entertainment”?
When it comes to organizing and throwing a corporate event, you should be focused on making it as meaningful and unforgettable as possible. Event planning with a focus on entertainment sets an engaging atmosphere and strengthens bonds in a way that standard meetings just can’t.
Companies that prioritize engaging experiences understand their value. Studies show that employees who feel connected to their workplace are 87% less likely to leave their jobs, and a corporate event is the perfect opportunity to develop a deeper sense of workplace connection.
So let’s determine what kind of entertainment will leave your team talking long after the event ends.
40 ideas for your next corporate event
Now we’ll lay out 40 of the best ideas for activities to use in your next corporate shindig. We’ve sorted them into multiple categories to cover every type of corporate event.
Outdoor & adventurous activities
Our first category focuses on entertainment using the Great Outdoors. Swap out the office chairs for hiking boots and grab some sunscreen for these:
1. City hunt with a race
To kickstart our list, forget standard sightseeing as a corporate event. Turn the city into a live-action adventure where teams take in the sights while racing against the clock. We’ve organized a host of city-wide scavenger hunts (like this one in New York) and the results were unforgettable.
Set a few challenges like snapping a selfie with a “stranger” (who’s actually in on the act), or tracking down a hidden landmark. This is the perfect corporate outing for a team with an adventurous spirit!
- Beach or park Olympics
Time for your teams to tap into their inner Olympian, but this time in an idyllic and relaxing setting. Find your nearest serene, sandy beach or grassy park and have your teams compete in office-style Olympics.
Organize some hilarious, low-stakes challenges for them, like tug-of-war, sack races, and frisbee relays. If the sun’s shining, take it up a notch with a water dodgeball match. A great corporate day out, all wrapped up in fresh air and friendly banter.
- Whitewater rafting or kayaking
Strap on a life jacket, grab a paddle and get your teams ready for an unforgettable ride. Whitewater rafting or kayaking pushes teams to navigate the rapids together (while probably getting soaked in the process).
Equal parts adventure and teamwork, your teams will need to rely on each other and step a little bit outside their comfort zones. Expect splashes, high adrenaline, and at least one person accidentally spinning in circles (beautiful, graceful circles).
- Survival challenge
Have you got a team who are ready to brave a bit of wilderness? Put their skills to the test with a survival challenge (where no one actually gets stranded).
Split into teams and have them build a shelter, start a fire, or use a compass to navigate short treks in search of “supplies.” Keep it lighthearted with easier tasks and rewards or go full Bear Grylls mode—just make sure safety comes first.
- Adventure obstacle course
If you’ve got space and resources, put agility, teamwork and a competitive spirit to the test with an obstacle course. An adventure obstacle course is a great way to get everyone moving and bonding.
Set up a high-energy circuit featuring rope swings, climbing walls, balance beams, and—if you’re feeling daring—a mud pit or two. You can bring in professional course designers or DIY your own if you're up for the challenge. Getting tangled in the cargo net is practically a rite of passage. Let the games begin!
- Zip-lining and canopy
For an entertaining event with a view, send your team soaring through treetops on a zip-lining adventure. A forest canopy or scenic ziplining course across a canyon will give your teams a corporate event to remember.
This activity is great for reinforcing a team member who is overcoming a challenge. There’ll be bits of nervous laughter, victory cheers, and probably a few funny screams. By the end, everyone leaves feeling accomplished (and maybe craving another zipline round!).
- Corporate camping and bonfire night
If you’re less focused on challenges and aiming more for relaxation, a corporate camping and bonfire event might just set your event apart from the rest. Starry skies, crackling fires, and storytelling under the night sky paint a perfect picture of a truly memorable corporate event.
We’ve actually organized events for bonfires in the Catskills Mountains, and they’ve gone down magically every time. A night in the great outdoors might just be the refresh your team didn’t know they needed!
Black tie & formal entertainment
Stepping up your corporate event in style with the following activities and themes. A little class and sophistication can raise the profile of your event, so if you’re looking to get suited and booted for the day, use these ideas to bring in some magic!
- Corporate cocktail party with a mixologist
Take happy hour to the next level with a corporate cocktail party featuring a professional mixologist. Your team will get hands-on, learning to shake, stir, and craft signature cocktails like pros.
A lesson from a mixing pro can share the secrets of what’s behind the perfect pour, and even let your teams try their hand at shaking up their own favorite drink. Sure, you might have one person who mixes together an undrinkable concoction, but that’s part of the fun!
- A glitz-and-glam casino
Bring the high-roller experience to your corporate event with a dazzling casino night. Classic casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps tables can let people unwind for the day in style.
Your teams can bet with company-branded chips (so HR can breathe easy) and swap them for prizes as the night ends. Add a champagne bar and a suave dress code and you’re in for a memorable night of glamour. Enjoy!
- Murder mystery dinner party
Put on your best poker face and draw your most dramatic gasp because someone in the room is guilty, and it’s up to your teams to solve it! A murder mystery dinner party adds elegance to a corporate event, as well as some laugh-out-loud moments.
Teams enter into a “whodunit” scene where they can play detective, suspect, or even the elusive murder culprit. Use a party theme, complete with costumes, and fill the activity with hidden clues for deeper immersion. Make your corporate event a night to remember with a murder mystery dinner party.
- Champagne tasting and pairing experience
Open a little bit of the bubbly and celebrate your teams in style with this plush corporate event. A champagne-tasting experience brings an air of sophistication to any event, letting your teams sample a curated selection of Italy’s finest while learning about deep flavor profiles.
If you’re looking to make it even more fancy, pair each champagne with decadent chocolates, gourmet cheeses, or fancy hors d’oeuvres. It’s a refined, lighthearted way to indulge, just don’t go overboard ladies and gents!
- Opera or classical music concert
Ditch the predictable event playlist and bring in the magic of live classical music. You might choose a string quartet, a grand orchestra, or a powerful opera performance. Your teams can sit back, sip something sophisticated, and let the music transport them (even if they have no idea what the operatic lyrics mean).
Host your next corporate event at a live concert, and by the end of the night, your team will leave feeling inspired, uplifted, and maybe even a little more cultured.
Interactive & team-building fun
Our next category is focused on boosting engagement through the power of teamwork. Use these team-building activities in your next corporate event to bring everyone closer together, and maybe even discover some new hidden talents!
- “Iron-chef” style cooking experience
Quite a few of our readers might already be familiar with the hit Japanese TV show “Iron Chef.” Now, it’s time to bring that same fast-paced, high-energy culinary showdown to your corporate event.
Armed with mystery ingredients, teams will chop and sauté their way to victory, all while racing against the clock. Use a professional chef to offer guidance and judge the results. You can expect a little bit of kitchen chaos (that comes naturally), alongside some impressive dishes that come with a loud “YES, CHEF!”
- Trivia night with a killer theme
Think you know it all? Time to put that random knowledge to the test! A trivia game as part of your corporate event can electrify the whole day with an element of competition. Pick a fun, unexpected theme, like ’90s pop culture, cult movies, or conspiracy theories (the harmless ones, of course), to add a unique twist to the classic pub quiz.
Arrange a charismatic host who throws in a few curveball bonus rounds, and you’ve got a night filled with big wins, wrong answers, and at least one person taking it way too seriously.
- Giant board game night
Take classic board games, supersize them, and watch the fun unfold! Lots of online outlets supply life-sized Jenga, human-sized chess, or a mega Connect Four. Use these oversized versions to make your next corporate event feel larger than life!
Team games work wonderfully for corporate events. Add a few themed snacks, a nice lounge setup, and some friendly trash talk, and you’re delivering a night that your teams will love.
- Speed networking and icebreaker games
Networking doesn’t have to be awkward small talk and forced handshakes. Speed networking turns introductions into a fast-paced experience, where members rotate through quickfire conversations with colleagues they might not usually interact with.
Our list of icebreaker questions will set your teams up perfectly. By the end of a speed networking session, you might just have new inside jokes and at least one duo who realize they’ve been emailing each other for years but have never actually met!
- “Minute To Win It” game show
Focus on high-energy games to amplify a fun corporate retreat, and challenge teams to take on outrageous challenges in under 60 seconds. Inspired by the popular game show, this activity features laugh-out-loud tasks, like stacking cups at lightning speed or trying to keep three balloons in the air at once (borderline impossible).
With a timer ticking down and the pressure on, expect some entertaining performances with clutch, last-second wins. Absolutely anyone can play, and everyone will leave with a hilarious story to tell.
- Charity team challenge
Give back to the world while bringing your team together with a charity-driven challenge that turns teamwork into a force for good. Reach out to local charity organizers for your next corporate event, like groups who assemble care packages for the homeless or build bikes for kids.
Arrange a charity scavenger hunt where all funds go to the company and watch your teams channel their competitive spirit for a great cause. Part teamwork, part feel-good moment, and 100% rewarding, this is a great choice for a corporate event.
- Lip-sync battle
Limited (or no) vocal talent? That’s not a problem. A lip-sync battle lets your team channel their inner rock stars, pop divas, or 80s icons, without needing to hit a single note correctly. See if your teams are up for a high-energy group routine, or a completely over-the-top Beyoncé impression.
Whatever they choose, this activity focuses on confidence, commitment, and just the right amount of ridiculousness. The winner takes the bragging rights, but everyone walks away a legend.
Tech-based & virtual-friendly experiences
Not all corporate entertainment needs to be in-person. These days there are ample opportunities for virtual corporate events, so remote and hybrid teams can still join the fun. These activities focus on interactivity and remote-friendliness:
- Corporate Metaverse experience
Why stick to a traditional venue when you can take your event into the Metaverse? A fully immersive experience lets teams network, play, and explore a custom-designed virtual world.
Customize avatars, interact in real-time, and even attend workshops or team-building activities without ever leaving their homes or desks. Perfect for remote teams or companies looking to add a new twist to events, a Metaverse experience could become a tantalizing prospect in the years to come.
- An in-home scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts aren’t just for the outdoors. A virtual twist on this classic game has players finding random household objects as fast as they can. The host calls out challenges like, “Find something older than you,” or “Bring back the most questionable souvenir you own,” and teams get to scrambling!
Expect hilarious discoveries and unexpected backstories as members sprint off-camera in a desperate bid to win. It’s a fast, fun way to turn a virtual gathering into a memorable event.
- Attend a virtual concert
Virtual concerts have soared in popularity for companies looking to deliver a memorable corporate event online. It’s a wonderful experience when remote teams enjoy live music together. Virtual concerts bring the energy and excitement of a live show straight to the screen.
Companies like SofaConcerts, Eventbrite, and Remo all host jaw-dropping online concerts for an amazing virtual corporate event. By the end of the night, someone will definitely forget they’re on camera and go full karaoke mode (no judgment here!)
- 360° virtual travel and museum tour
Why book a flight when you can explore the world from your desk? A 360° virtual travel experience lets your team step inside famous landmarks, wander through world-class museums, or even dive deep into underwater wonders.
From the Louvre in Paris to the Great Wall of China, interactive guides bring history, art, and culture to life with immersive visuals and live narration. Great for teams who yearn to explore and flex the line “I’ve been there” even if it’s only virtually.
- Remote-controlled robot battles
Ever wanted to settle an office debate with a head-to-head robot duel? This activity could be your chance. Have your teams try their hand at piloting remote-controlled robots, competing in an arena filled with obstacles and traps.
Sounds smashing, doesn’t it? Each team needs to outmaneuver the other in a clash to metallic oblivion. A day of remote-controlled robot battles could be the exact destruction your teams need for an unforgettable event.
- Drone racing or FPV drone show
It’s not every day you get to pilot a high-speed drone, but this activity lets your team take to the skies (virtually, of course). In a high-speed drone race, teams use FPV headsets to navigate an obstacle course, testing their reflexes and precision.
If you’re not looking to race, there are also custom drone light shows with FPVs that create some incredible visual displays to take in. This activity guarantees a sky-high spectacle your team won’t forget!
- A “Jackbox” gaming day
If you haven’t played Jackbox Games yet, you’re in for a treat. The guys at Jackbox have bundled up some hilarious, easy-to-play party games, perfect for remote teams who bond through healthy competition.
Showstopping games include Quiplash, Drawful and Fibbage, offering anyone a chance to game. A virtual corporate event incorporating Jackbox will make a day to remember.
Live performances & showstoppers
Sometimes, the best way to entertain a crowd is to send in the professionals. Live performances add energy and a “wow factor” that makes any corporate event unforgettable. These next acts will keep your audience engaged and talking long after the event ends.
- A magician masterclass
Sure, watching a magician perform is fun, but learning the tricks of the trade? Even better. A magician masterclass gives your team an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at sleight of hand, mind tricks, and illusion secrets (if he’s willing to divulge them!).
Let your teams try their hand at card tricks, making objects disappear completely, and maybe even pulling something out of a hat (rabbit not included).
- Bring in “Living Statues”
Ever heard of “Living statues”? These are the professionals who use extremely realistic clothing and makeup to resemble a marble statue. Hiring them as entertainment for your corporate event can add a touch of excitement. Team members might not even realize they’re human until they blink or suddenly jump at them.
Costumes are often focused on golden Greek gods or silver-plated Victorian figures, but there are loads to choose from. Pick one that fits your corporate event theme and bring some performative excitement to the get-together!
- Aerial elegance and silk acrobatics
Take your corporate event to new heights—literally. Aerial silk performers will twist, spin, and drop gracefully from the ceiling, leaving guests in awe (and grateful they’re not the ones up there).
Bringing in professional silk acrobats adds a touch of Cirque du Soleil to any formal gathering. Expect a few gasps, plenty of applause, and at least one person whispering, “I could totally do that” (they cannot).
- Immersive theater performance
Do away with traditional stage shows and step into the world of immersive theater with your teams. Instead of passively watching, your team becomes part of the story, interacting with actors as the plot unfolds in real time.
There are mystery-themed performances, historical reenactments or futuristic sci-fi plots waiting for your teams to jump into. It’s a show that blurs the lines between fiction and reality, with extremely fun results!
- Hypnotist show
Ever wondered if your coworkers could be hypnotized into thinking they’re world-class ballet dancers or highly trained military personnel? A hypnotist show could put the powers of susceptibility to the test (or at least generate a little laughter).
Your team members will volunteer and see if the pro hypnotist can work their magic on them. Events might become quite unpredictable, so check to make sure your team feels up to it beforehand. We don’t want anyone forgetting their name or the language they use every day.
- LED light show performers
Visual showstoppers and LED light performers can elevate your event into something special. Companies now use high-end illuminated costumes to create wondrous dance performances, as well as gorgeous laser displays.
Pair a light show with an evening gala or black-tie event for a chance at capturing the most dazzling photographs. Everyone attending will leave absolutely glowing reviews.
- Fire dancers and pyro show
Leading on from shows with lights, how about heating the event up with pyrotechnic masterclasses? We certainly don’t recommend your teams actually get involved, leave it up to the pros.
Imagine the kind of photographs you could get at the event hosting this one in a picturesque setting. A professional pyro show gets adrenaline pumping, so the event will be filled with excited gasps and cheers. Consider front-row seats!
- Stunt shows or extreme sports demo
If your event calls for high-octane thrills, a stunt show or extreme sports demonstration will crank the excitement up to 11. These acts are fast, daring, and guaranteed to get your crowd on their feet, leaving your team buzzing long after the show ends.
Reach out to your local stunt show organizers and bring them into your corporate event for next-level excitement.
Unique & unconventional ideas
Our last set of entertaining activities doesn’t really fit into any conventional box. Sometimes, having an element of the unexpected makes an event so much more fun. Try these outside-the-box activities to enhance your next corporate event:
- Henna tattoo station
Henna tattoos are a beautiful relic of culture and history from regions in the Middle East. They date back 5,000 years and are designed with truly beautiful patterns. So why not bring them into your event?
Set up a henna station offering both traditional designs and custom creations for your event. It’s a relaxing experience where you watch the artist in action. Oh and for anyone who doesn’t know, hennas are temporary, no needles involved! Perfect for events with open cultures, try this one out next!
- A puppy (or any pet) party
If there’s one thing guaranteed to boost morale and melt hearts, it’s a room full of wagging tails and tiny paws. Organizing a puppy party (or any pet-friendly gathering, really) lets your team cuddle, play, and de-stress with some furry friends.
You can partner with a local animal shelter for an adoption-friendly event or bring in trained therapy animals for a feel-good experience. Either way, there’ll be smiles all around, and probably one person trying to convince the boss that taking this puppy home is a “business necessity.”
- Hire tantalizing food trucks
Recent years have seen a boom in services offering some amazing street food, served directly from a truck. These trucks offer a fun, festival-style dining experience with a variety of gourmet options.
Select foods that include something for everyone, with trucks that cater to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs. The casual, social atmosphere lets guests mix, match, and sample different flavors while enjoying the street-food experience. Chow down!
- Ice sculpture carving station
Turn your event into a winter wonderland with an ice sculpture carving station, where guests can watch expert sculptors at work, or even try their hand at it! Carving ice is a unique, hands-on experience that’s both impressive and oddly satisfying.
Turn it into a friendly competition and see who can chisel out the most creative design before their sculpture starts to melt.
- Corporate “Roast” (with kindness!)
What’s better than a little good-natured office banter? A corporate roast gives your team a chance to playfully poke fun at each other in a way that’s all laughs and zero awkwardness.
To keep things on the right side of friendly, bring in a professional comedian to host and set the tone. Hopefully, they’ll help teams laugh and cause just enough embarrassment to make things interesting—without causing any emergency HR meetings.
- Live graffiti wall
For our last recommendation, help your teams tap into their creative side with a live graffiti wall. Enlist the help of a pro and set up a group mural, or opt for a free-for-all creative space.
Prepare your spray paints, markers, and stencils for this one. You could even set a challenge to incorporate a company logo somewhere in the mural. By the end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind artwork and some very colorful team photos.
Elevate your corporate entertainment with a Surf Office retreat!
Why settle for entertainment in an ordinary setting when you can take your corporate events to the next level? A Surf Office retreat amplifies a standard corporate event into an unforgettable experience.
Here’s what we offer:
- Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
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Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
Ready to create a corporate event that stands out? Let’s plan something extraordinary together. Get in touch today!
