40 fun icebreaker ideas for any meeting

If you’ve ever hosted a team meeting, workshop, or conference, you know the awkward silence that can settle in before things really get rolling. That’s where fun icebreaker ideas come in. A good icebreaker can turn polite nods into laughter, help people connect more genuinely, and set the tone for collaboration.

Whether you’re a manager trying to bring your team closer together or you’re hosting a company event and want attendees to mix and mingle, these icebreaker ideas for meetings are actually fun and easy to pull off. They’ll add some energy to your routine agenda, spark conversation, and remind everyone that behind the desks (and Zoom screens) are real, interesting humans.

And if you’re hosting multiple events or team sessions throughout the year, consider subscribing to Paperless Pro for all your invitation and planning needs. You’ll get all-inclusive pricing and unlock exclusive features that help you create seamless, on-brand events—from digital invitations tailored to your company’s identity to beautifully designed, easy-to-use event pages. 

Ready to break the ice?

In-person icebreaker ideas

In-person meetings come with the built-in advantage of handshakes, laughter, and body language that help create connection. These in-person icebreaker ideas make it easy to loosen up a crowd, get people talking, and build rapport fast. (Bonus: Many of these work just as well in virtual or hybrid settings.)

1. Office scavenger hunt

This fun icebreaker idea is perfect for new hires or anyone new to your office space. Create a short scavenger hunt where participants find items or landmarks around the workplace, like the coffee station, company awards, or a quirky piece of art. End with a small prize for the winner. Include instructions and clues right on your invitation’s event page for a polished, professional touch.

2. Favorite book exchange

Ask attendees to bring a copy of their favorite book to exchange. It’s a great conversation starter and a way to learn about each other’s interests. Send out a broadcast message reminder through your Paperless Post invitation a few days before, so no one forgets to bring their book.

3. Share a picture from childhood

Have everyone bring or show a photo from their childhood and tell a quick story about it. It’s a sweet and funny way to learn about each other’s backgrounds. If someone can’t find a photo, they can share a favorite childhood memory instead.

4. Things in common

Start with a blank whiteboard and ask the group to list five or ten things they all have in common—no matter how small. You’ll discover shared interests, hometowns, or maybe even a love of the same coffee chain. 

5. Who’s coming to your dinner party? 

This is a timeless conversation starter and icebreaker idea. Have everyone share three guests—real or fictional, living or deceased—they’d invite to their dream dinner party. It’s an easy way to spark stories and learn about what inspires people.

6. Best piece of advice

 

Ask participants to share the best piece of advice they’ve ever received. Let everyone know ahead of time in the invitation so they can think about it. After the meeting, compile the advice into a shared document and send it out in a follow-up broadcast message to attendees so that everyone can hold onto all that sage advice.

7. Mini Jeopardy

Create a custom Jeopardy-style game using an online template or PowerPoint. Include categories like company trivia, pop culture, or industry fun facts. Keep rounds short and award a small prize—like a gift card to the coffee shop around the corner—to the winners.

8. Never Have I Ever

This is a classic game and fun icebreaker idea that’s great for getting people laughing. Have everyone hold up five fingers, and take turns saying work-appropriate “Never have I ever…” statements (like, “Never have I ever hit reply-all by mistake.”) The last person with a finger left up wins! 

9. Pictionary 

Split into teams and take turns drawing and guessing prompts on a whiteboard. You can create your own prompts or use an online generator. It’s a fun, creative way to break the ice and get everyone’s energy up (and learn who on your team is a secret artist). 

10. In the hot seat

Choose one person to sit in the “hot seat” and invite everyone to ask them one question—personal or professional, depending on your workplace dynamic. Rotate team members from meeting to meeting so each person eventually takes a turn. Add a Speakers Block to your invitation’s event page to introduce who’s in the hot seat that day, including their name and title, so everyone can prep their questions beforehand.

11. Human knot

Have participants stand in a circle, reach across, and grab hands with two different people. Without letting go, they must untangle themselves back into a circle. It’s silly, interactive, and perfect for team bonding—just make sure everyone’s comfortable with physical proximity before starting.

Virtual icebreaker ideas

Just because your team is scattered across screens doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. These virtual icebreaker ideas are designed to help remote or hybrid teams feel more connected, boost morale, and bring personality into every meeting.

12. Meet the pets

Ask everyone to introduce their pets on camera—whether it’s a dog, cat, fish, or even a plant named Steve. It’s a lighthearted way to humanize your coworkers and see who your teammates spend time with off the clock.

13. Virtual show and tell

Each person shares an item that’s meaningful to them, like a travel souvenir or family heirloom. It’s a great way to add a personal touch and spark interesting stories in an otherwise routine meeting. Since many of your virtual team members may work from home, this one’s especially easy to do—everyone already has their favorite things within arm’s reach.

14. Share an emoji

For this virtual icebreaker idea, invite everyone to post one emoji in the meeting chat that represents how they’re feeling or how their week is going. It’s simple, fast, and surprisingly revealing. Hopefully you’ll get some cheerful ones—but even a few ambivalent emojis can be a great temperature check before diving into business.

15. Desk tours

Ask team members to give a quick virtual tour of their work setup. Whether it’s a dual monitor dream setup or a kitchen-table operation, it’s fun to see where everyone spends their day. Let people opt out if they prefer not to share, as some may not want to show their spaces, or they may not be presentable at the time. 

16. Rose and thorn

Each person shares one highlight (“rose”) and one challenge (“thorn”) from their week. It’s a quick way to celebrate wins, acknowledge struggles, and give everyone a chance to connect. Managers can also use this insight to understand team morale and offer support where needed.

17. Virtual trivia

Use an online trivia platform or make your own quiz with fun facts about your company, your industry, or general pop culture. Trivia games are a hit because they blend competition with laughter—and they work equally well in large or small virtual meetings.

18. Virtual background

For this virtual icebreaker idea, have everyone choose a themed background, like “dream vacation,” “favorite movie,” or “place I’d rather be right now.” Then go around and let everyone explain their pick. If some guests aren’t familiar with how to upload virtual backgrounds, include step-by-step instructions in your invitation’s Details Block for a seamless experience.

Icebreaker ideas for large groups

When your audience is big—like a full department meeting, offsite, or company-wide workshop—you need icebreaker ideas for large groups that are simple to organize, easy to scale, and get everyone involved. These activities create energy and help people connect beyond their immediate circles.

19. What’s your theme song? 

Have everyone share what their personal theme song would be. It’s a quick way to reveal personality and music taste, and it’s fun to see how diverse the answers can get. Have someone record the responses and compile a Spotify playlist, then share it later in a broadcast message so everyone can enjoy it.

20. Team compliments

For this icebreaker idea for work, form a circle and have each person share one compliment about the person to their right. It’s a wonderful way to spread positivity and help team members feel appreciated. For really large groups, split into smaller teams of 8–10 people so everyone gets a chance to share.

21. Words to describe yourself

Ask everyone to share one to three words that describe them best. You’ll get everything from “organized” to “outgoing,” but it’s an easy way to get to know people’s personalities in seconds.

22. Name game

Have everyone introduce themselves with an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name—like “Creative Carla” or “Meticulous Miguel.” Repeat each name as you go around the room so everyone remembers them. It’s silly, but surprisingly effective.

23. Guess My Celebrity Name

Before the meeting, write down celebrity or public figure names on sticky notes. When attendees arrive, stick one on each person’s back. They have to mingle and ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are (“Am I a musician?” “Am I alive?”). It’s lively, social, and guaranteed to get people talking.

24. Speed “dating”

Set up two rows of chairs facing each other. Participants pair up for three-minute conversations before rotating to the next seat. Provide a few light prompts like “What’s your dream vacation?” or “What was your first job?” to keep the chats flowing. It’s efficient, energizing, and perfect for conferences or cross-department introductions.

Funny icebreaker ideas

Laughter is the fastest way to break tension and build connections. These funny icebreaker ideas encourage humor, creativity, and a little bit of silliness—all while staying professional and appropriate for work.

25. Charades

Split into teams and play a few rounds of charades using movie titles, songs, or famous people. It’s hilarious to watch your coworkers mime out their clues, and it helps everyone loosen up before diving into work discussions.

26. Mad Libs

Bring a classic Mad Libs book or make your own with a workplace twist (“Our boss loves ___ meetings about ___!”). Read the results out loud for guaranteed laughs. Just be sure to keep it lighthearted and HR-friendly.

27. Celebrity crush

Have everyone share their childhood celebrity crush. You’ll learn who was team Leonardo DiCaprio versus team Justin Timberlake, and probably get some great, nostalgic stories in the process.

28. Better businessperson

Pick two famous figures—real or fictional—and have your group debate who would make the better businessperson. Beyoncé vs. Sherlock Holmes? Oprah vs. Iron Man? Let the creativity fly.

29. What’s in your fridge? 

Ask everyone to share the weirdest item in their fridge or pantry and how it got there. You’ll discover secret chefs, mystery condiments, and maybe a few science experiments.

Quick and easy icebreaker ideas

Short on time? These easy icebreaker ideas for meetings can fit into any agenda. They’re simple, require zero prep, and help meetings start on a friendly note—even if you’ve only got five minutes to spare.

30. What’s your superpower? 

Ask everyone what superpower they’d choose if they could have one. It’s a lighthearted way to get creative answers (“time travel” is always a hit).

31. What’s on your bucket list? 

Invite participants to share one thing from their bucket list, whether it’s traveling to Japan, learning a new language, or running a marathon. It helps people dream big and discover shared interests.

32. Two truths and a lie

A classic for a reason! Each person shares two truths and one lie about themselves, while everyone else guesses which is the lie. It’s quick, surprising, and always sparks conversation.

33. What did you have for breakfast? 

Here’s an icebreaker idea for work that’s simple but effective: Ask everyone to share what they ate for breakfast. It’s an easy way to learn about people’s routines (and maybe get a few new recipe ideas).

34. What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend? 

Find out what your coworkers love doing when they’re not working. From hiking to Netflix marathons, it’s an easy way to bond over shared downtime activities.

35. What’s your caffeinated beverage of choice? 

Ask everyone how they take their morning caffeine—coffee, matcha, tea, or energy drink. It’s a fun mini poll that reveals personality types (and who you should never steal the last pour of cold brew from).

36. Favorite TV show or movie

Have each person name a TV show or movie they can rewatch endlessly—and why. You’ll get a mix of comedy, comfort, and cult classics, plus maybe a few recommendations for your next binge.

37. New name

If you could rename yourself, what would you choose? It’s a quirky question that gets surprisingly deep (or just very funny).

38. First job

Ask everyone to share their first-ever job and what they learned from it. This icebreaker idea can spark funny stories, reveal surprising skills people developed early on, and help team members connect over shared experiences of awkward or memorable first work moments.

39. Great accomplishment

Invite people to share a personal or professional accomplishment they’re proud of. It’s motivating, uplifting, and helps celebrate wins of all sizes.

40. Time travel

If you could travel to any time period—past or future—where would you go and why? This one always leads to fascinating discussions about team members’ interests in history, imagination, and adventure.

Pull off your icebreaker ideas with Paperless Pro

 

Icebreakers are more than just fun—they set the tone for your meetings, workshops, and events. They help people feel connected, spark conversation, and create an atmosphere where collaboration and creativity can thrive. With the right icebreaker ideas for work, you can turn even routine gatherings into unforgettable, engaging experiences for your team or attendees.

When it comes to making your events seamless and on-brand, Paperless Pro is the perfect companion. With a Paperless Pro subscription, you get unlimited access to premium designs, all-inclusive pricing, and powerful tools for customization, RSVP tracking, and guest management. Whether you’re hosting a small team meeting or a full-scale conference, Paperless Pro makes it easy to organize polished, professional, and memorable events every time.