A 2026 workplace trend report from Confetti finds companies are replacing large banquet-style holiday parties with smaller 6-15 person 'micro' gatherings, citing cost, inclusivity, and stronger engagement as the main drivers.
What's trending
A 2026 workplace trend report from employee-engagement platform Confetti describes "micro holiday parties," smaller gatherings of roughly 6 to 15 people, as one of the biggest shifts in how companies are celebrating the season this year, replacing the traditional single large-venue event. The report points to more distributed teams, cost, and inclusivity as the main drivers, and specifically calls out cultural potlucks, where employees share family traditions or seasonal dishes, as one of the strongest-performing formats.
Why it's resonating
Smaller groups change the social dynamics in a way a ballroom full of people can't. With 8 to 15 people at a table instead of 80 in a hall, conversations stop feeling performative, quieter people participate more, and it's easier to accommodate different dietary needs or preferences without turning it into a separate project. It's also simply cheaper and easier to organize than one big event with venue minimums and catering packages attached.
Where a smaller party still needs a menu
A smaller gathering doesn't mean a less thoughtful one. If anything, a potluck-style or home-hosted party benefits even more from a clear, printed menu, since guests are often contributing dishes and want to know what's already covered. The Christmas Menu Template, Ugly Sweater Party Menu, Editable Christmas Dinner Menu Printable works well for exactly this kind of smaller, at-home-style celebration, including the ugly sweater format the trend report itself calls out as one of the season's most durable ideas.
The bottom line
As the big office banquet gives way to smaller, more personal gatherings, the details that make those get-togethers feel intentional, like a menu guests can glance at, matter more, not less.