Holiday party season is here. These are the numbers to plan around.

This week in 30 seconds

• The holiday party is back, and it’s booking season. 82% of employees planned to attend, and 51% of companies raised budgets. (ezCater)
• Daytime parties are winning. 55% of employees would rather celebrate during the workday. (Cvent)
• Costs keep rising and budgets don’t. Cost per attendee is projected at $263 this year, while nearly half of companies have flat budgets. (Skift Meetings)
• Team building is becoming a management priority. It now shows up on L&D leaders’ lists for the first time. (SHRM)

Holiday party countdown

If the date and venue aren’t booked yet, this is the week

• Attendance is up. In ezCater’s most recent workplace holiday report, 82% of employees said they’d RSVP yes, up from an estimated 70% the year before, and 51% of decision-makers increased budgets. (ezCater via Business Wire)
• Food is the main draw. 77% of employees said food is the perk they look forward to most. (ezCater) Food and beverage spending rose 31% to an average of $59 per person. (CFO.com)
• Hold it during the workday. 55% of employees would rather celebrate in the afternoon, during work hours, than after hours. (Cvent)
• Expect some nerves. 96% of employees look forward to the party, but 45% still feel stressed about attending. (ezCater) Clear timing, a casual dress code and something to do help.
• Give people something to do. Planners are moving from passive programming to interactive food stations and activities that get guests talking. (Social Capitol Events) Treat mocktails as seriously as cocktails. (Live Nation Special Events)

Quick budget guide, per person

Want the full breakdown? Read the Holiday Party Budget Guide.

Budget reality check

Costs are up. Budgets are flat.

• Per-attendee costs keep rising. They’re expected to rise 3% to $263 in 2026 and reach $267 in 2027. Meeting budgets stayed flat at 47% of companies, and 19% faced cuts. (Skift Meetings)
• Some line items have jumped since 2019. Maritz estimates overall per-attendee costs will rise about 6% in 2026, and food and beverage another 3–5% next year. (Skift Meetings)
• The industry still expects more spending. 91% of meetings professionals expect spending to grow in 2027. Attendees want more personalized interactions (35%), more social and networking time (31%) and more hands-on workshops (31%). (micebook on Amex GBT’s forecast)

Trend watch

Team building gets a seat at the table

• L&D leaders are starting to prioritize it. In SHRM’s 2026 L&D report, 13% of L&D executives focused on management skills named team building a top focus area, up from zero the year before. (SHRM)
• Smaller events are winning. Most event teams plan more gatherings under 200 attendees, while only 18% plan more large events. The number of organizations planning more virtual events doubled year over year. (Forrester)
• Wellbeing formats are rising. Yoga, sound baths and mindful workshops are growing as ways to prevent burnout, especially for hybrid teams. (ECIKS)

Idea of the week

Include your remote team

Most holiday parties forget remote employees. A simple fix is a 45-minute virtual trivia game held the same week as the in-person party.

• Self-hosted: a ready-made deck with questions, a picture round and an answer key, and someone on your team hosts. This is the lowest-cost option.
• Hosted: a professional host runs the game. More energy, less work for you.

Planning calendar

What to book when