In this article
There was a time when December meant warm drinks, questionable playlists and someone from Accounts becoming a dancefloor hero. Lately, the headlines have been writing the office Christmas party's obituary.
So we asked. In November 2025, we surveyed 500 UK office workers about their end-of-year celebrations. The answer wasn't the one the headlines expected. The party isn't dying. It's splitting, mostly along age lines.
Let's unwrap it.
The party isn't dead
Most people still want an end-of-year celebration. 71% of the office workers we asked said it mattered to them: 32% called it very important and 39% somewhat important.
They'll turn up, too. 70% said they were likely to attend if their company hosted one, and almost three in ten said they'd definitely be there.
Only 8% said their company wasn't hosting anything that year. That isn't a nation ditching the tinsel.
The real divide is age
Split the answers by age and two very different offices appear.
| Age group | Party is important to me | Likely to attend | Social events boost morale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 (104 people) | 87% | 87% | 89% |
| 35–54 (287 people) | 77% | 75% | 78% |
| 55 and over (109 people) | 42% | 42% | 58% |
For workers under 35, the Christmas party is close to a fixture. Among the over-55s, fewer than half think it matters, and almost a quarter (24%) said they simply weren't interested in going.
That gap is the real story. One format is trying to please people who want very different things from the end of the year.
Why some people skip it
We asked the 87 people who said they were unlikely to go, or definitely wouldn't, why not. They could pick more than one reason.
- 64% said they just weren't interested
- 18% had family commitments, and 17% had other personal commitments
- 15% said it was too far to travel
- A handful (6 people) said they couldn't afford the costs around it, such as an outfit or travel
The biggest barrier isn't money or logistics. It's that the classic format doesn't appeal to some people at all.
Does everyone feel included?
We asked how inclusive office holiday celebrations are of everyone's preferences and beliefs.
- 23% said very much
- 45% said somewhat
- 20% said not much or not at all
- The rest weren't sure
Two groups felt less included than average. Women were less likely than men to call celebrations very inclusive (17% against 28%). And 28% of over-55s said celebrations weren't very inclusive, against 15% of under-35s.
A one-size-fits-all night out clearly doesn't fit everyone.
Morale still runs on time together
Whatever people think of the format, they're clear about the point of it.
- 76% said work social events, from Christmas parties to pub quizzes, have a positive impact on morale
- Only 3% said they have a negative impact
The appetite for connection hasn't gone anywhere. The format just needs to catch up with the people it's for.
What a better party looks like
If your team spans everyone from graduates to people counting down to retirement, one big night may not work for all of them. Some ideas that widen the net:
- A daytime option, such as a team lunch or breakfast
- An activity-based social that isn't built around the bar
- A volunteering day or charity challenge
- Several smaller events instead of one big one
- Good alcohol-free options, offered without fuss
A celebration people want to attend beats a tradition people feel they have to endure.
Going to the party? Look after the basics
Eat before you go, alternate drinks with water or soft drinks, and plan your route home before you leave. If you're curious what actually helps with hydration, our guide to electrolytes vs water looks at the evidence, and our morning-after routine covers sleep, food and getting moving again.
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Shop Recovery SachetsAbout this survey
The research was carried out by OnePoll for Humans Against. It was an online survey of 500 UK office workers, conducted between 21 and 25 November 2025.
The results are not weighted. Compared with the UK workforce as a whole, the sample included a higher share of people living in London (29%) and working in IT (27%). Both groups were more positive about work celebrations than everyone else, so the overall figures may be somewhat higher than for all UK office workers. The age differences hold within the sample.
We only report groups of at least 80 people, in line with OnePoll's guidance; the one exception, the six people who cited cost, is given as a number rather than a percentage. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Editor's note
Updated 6 October 2026. An earlier version of this article misreported several figures from this survey, including the whole age-group breakdown, and described the sample as nationwide. It also included reasons and splits based on groups too small to report reliably. We have rechecked every figure against the raw survey data and corrected or removed them.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Office Christmas Party
Is the office Christmas party dying out?
Not according to our survey. In November 2025, 71% of the 500 UK office workers we asked said an end-of-year celebration mattered to them, and 70% said they were likely to attend if their company hosted one. Only 8% said their company wasn't hosting anything that year.
Do younger workers care more about the Christmas party?
Yes, by a wide margin. 87% of 18 to 34-year-olds said the party was important to them, compared with 42% of workers aged 55 and over.
Why do people skip the work Christmas party?
Among people unlikely to attend, the most common reason by far was simply not being interested (64%). Family commitments (18%), other personal commitments (17%) and travel distance (15%) followed.
Do work social events actually help morale?
Most people think so. 76% of the office workers we surveyed said work social events have a positive impact on morale, and only 3% said they have a negative one.
Who carried out this survey?
OnePoll carried out the survey for Humans Against. It was an online survey of 500 UK office workers between 21 and 25 November 2025. The results are unweighted.
The Bottom Line
The office Christmas party isn't dead. Most office workers still value it, and three in four say social events lift morale. But enthusiasm drops sharply with age, and a fifth don't find celebrations very inclusive. The workplaces that get it right will offer more than one way to celebrate, so everyone has a reason to show up.
However you celebrate, look after yourself this December.
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