The end of the year is a natural time for reflection—celebrating milestones, sharing lessons learned, and setting intentions for what lies ahead. Whether you’re planning a glittering New Year’s bash or enjoying a quiet evening at home, the season is rich with opportunities to connect.
New Year’s is also the perfect moment for meaningful icebreaker questions. These prompts create space for individuals to share their unique perspectives and stories, fostering deeper connections in any setting.
Ready to break the ice? Explore this curated list of New Year’s-themed questions—ideal for wrapping up the year, starting fresh, or building rapport in group settings. Whether you’re connecting with coworkers, energizing a team, or kicking off a new course, these questions are designed to inspire.
Pro Tip: Use these icebreakers strategically to spark open conversations. Keep reading for tips on how to maximize their impact and create moments your audience will remember.
30+ New Year’s icebreaker questions for any audience
Whether you’re leading a seminar for hundreds or connecting with a small group of peers, the right questions can transform your discussions into meaningful interactions. Start the conversation with this collection of over 30 New Year’s icebreaker questions designed to spark curiosity and encourage authentic sharing.
From lighthearted and fun to thought-provoking and reflective, these questions cater to a range of settings and moods. Explore the categories to find the perfect fit for your audience, and create an atmosphere where everyone feels inspired to participate.
Ready to dive in? Let these prompts guide your group into engaging and memorable discussions as you welcome the year ahead.
Celebrating the holiday
- Do you stay up until midnight?
- Do you prefer to go out or stay home on New Year’s Eve?
- Do you enjoy watching the ball drop on TV?
- Does your hometown or current city have a unique item they “drop” on NYE?
- Do you have any traditions to say goodbye to the past year?
- Do you have any traditions to promote luck in the coming year?
- Would you rather celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere cold or warm?
- Where is the best fireworks display for NYE?
- Do you prefer New Year’s house parties or formal events?
- Do you like to dress up for the holiday or keep it casual?
- Do you do any New Year’s fitness challenges, like a 5K or polar bear plunge?
- Do you eat any special meals on New Year’s?
Making resolutions and keeping them
- Did you stick to your resolutions from this year?
- Do you share your resolutions with others or keep them a secret?
- Do you have any resolutions for the coming year that you would like to share?
- Do you have any professional resolutions you would like to share? (Or academic ones for educators.)
- What is the best way for you to ensure you keep up with your resolutions?
Looking back on the past year
- What was the most notable event around the world this past year?
- What was the most notable local event in the community this year?
- What was the most notable event in your personal life that you would like to share?
- What was the most popular song of the year?
- What was the best movie released this year?
- What was the favorite place you visited this year?
- What skills did you gain this year in work or school?
- What hobbies did you pick up this year that you now enjoy?
- What is one moment from this year that you will cherish in the next?
Looking ahead to the coming year
- What trends would you like to see end in the next year?
- What fashion trends would you like to go out of style this year?
- What trends do you hope come into style this year?
- What skills would you like to grow this year?
- Where do you hope to travel this year?
- What excites you about the year ahead?
How to get the most out of your icebreaker questions
These icebreaker questions can help participants come out of their shells while making groups feel more comfortable around each other. Even sharing small life tidbits – like whether they enjoy going out on New Year’s Eve – can help people bond with those around them. However, there is an art to using icebreakers effectively. Follow these best practices if you are hosting an event and want to use these questions.
- Know the right format. Some of these questions are easier to answer than others. Use a quick Survey or Multiple Choice format for this-or-that queries and yes-or-no questions. This way you can get responses from the whole room. Questions that take longer to answer might need more Open-Ended response options.
- Leave enough room for discussion. Instead of hopping from one question to the next, let your group talk about their answers. Why don’t they like going out? Why do they love attending house parties? This is where connections are built.
- Make sure everyone has a voice. Accommodate all attendees whether your group meets in person, virtually, or in a hybrid environment. Digital software apps can make it easier for everyone to participate, no matter how comfortable they feel speaking up.
- Never judge the answers. As the moderator, your job is to make participants feel safe. Let people share their resolutions or life events and celebrate them. Criticizing or joking about a response could prevent participation in other areas of the seminar or meetings.
To start using New Year’s icebreaker questions, pull a few items from this list. Start with light and fun questions and then move into deeper ones discussing the year ahead. It’s better to choose a few effective icebreakers than to ask so many that you overwhelm everyone in the room.
Kick Off the New Year with Poll Everywhere
Looking to energize your presentations or meetings with fresh New Year’s icebreakers? Poll Everywhere makes it simple to captivate your audience. With real-time polling and interactive activities, you can easily spark engagement. Ask your attendees who stayed up past midnight, collect inspiring New Year’s resolutions, or break the ice with live word clouds.
Poll Everywhere empowers you to create memorable experiences for any setting—corporate events, classrooms, or team meetings. Discover activities tailored for educators and business professionals, designed to seamlessly fit your goals.
This year, commit to making every interaction more impactful. With Poll Everywhere, you’ll transform passive attendees into active participants, fostering connection and collaboration. Make audience engagement your New Year’s resolution—and watch your meetings come to life.
