Conference Breakout Activities: 10 Formats That Work

You have a conference programme to fill, and breakout slots where delegates will either take part or drift to the coffee queue. The best conference breakout activities are matched to the group size, the space and the time you have. Below are ten formats, from facilitated discussion rounds to tech-led games, with a table to help you choose.

What is a breakout session for?

A breakout session splits the main audience into smaller groups so people can take part instead of just listening. It gives delegates a chance to discuss, practise or play, to meet people outside their own team, and to reset between talks.

That purpose should drive your choice. If the goal is learning, a facilitated format suits. If it is connection or energy, a game or hands-on challenge works better.

How do you choose a breakout activity?

Start with three constraints: how many people, how much floor space, and how long the slot is. Energy level comes next, because a post-lunch slot needs something more active than a mid-morning workshop.

• Group size: some formats scale to hundreds, while others suit a room of 20 to 50.
• Space: check the real footprint, including walkways. A “small” kit still needs power and a clear floor.
• Session length: short slots suit drop-in or quiz formats. Longer slots suit team challenges with a result at the end.
• Mixed abilities: pick formats where no prior skill is needed, so nobody feels exposed.

For exact timings and footprints, confirm with your supplier against your venue plan.

10 conference breakout activities

1. Team quiz or game show round

A quiz or game show is a dependable choice for a mixed room, because teams can stay at their tables while players take turns. Our game shows and quizzes include quizzes, bingo, Taskmaster-style and Cube challenges, themed around your company, with setup included.

It suits a post-lunch slot or the end of the day.

2. Taskmaster-style challenges

Short, silly tasks are easy for mixed-ability groups to join in with. Teams can send up players one at a time while colleagues cheer from their seats. See our guide to Taskmaster-style team building for how the rounds work.

3. VR escape room

Teams of 4 to 10 gather round a table, with one person in the headset while teammates work from the manual on the table. Our VR escape room runs for up to 500 participants and needs about 2 x 2 m per team. No VR experience is needed.

4. AI Robot Wars

Teams of 6 to 12 play in an arena built around robots. AI Robot Wars runs for up to 500 participants and is tailored to the space, from a giant race track to a small arena. Nobody needs AI, coding or VR experience.

5. Tablet treasure hunt

Teams use tablets to complete geotagged challenges outdoors, with prizes for the winners. Our tablet treasure hunt suits conferences where delegates can get outdoors. Check the weather plan and walking distances before you commit, and see our outdoor team building if you want more outdoor options.

6. Indoor team building

CSI Investigation, Paint Pad Pro and Escape Room in a Box all work indoors, from 10 to 100+ people. Details are on our indoor team-building page. They suit a table-based room with a clear result at the end of the session.

7. The Betrayers

A Traitors-style game of deduction, adapted from a boardroom to a conference hall, with a professional presenter and all AV included. It works best as a longer slot or in the evening. Read more about The Betrayers as a team-building game.

8. Arcade stations

Retro arcade machines, air hockey, table football and darts run as a free-flow, drop-in format. Because people come and go, they fit breaks and networking slots without a fixed start time. See our arcade games.

9. AR or branded activation space

We build custom, branded augmented reality spaces and AR games for conferences. They work as a drop-in station that gives sponsors or internal teams something to point people towards.

10. Facilitated discussion rounds (no kit)

If budget or space is tight, structured discussion rounds or workshop stations need little beyond a facilitator and clear prompts. Give each table one question, rotate every 15 minutes or so, and collect outputs on a shared board. It is the best fit when learning is the goal.

How do you keep breakouts to time?

Most overruns come from setup and transitions, not the activity itself. Agree access times with the venue, and ask your supplier how long setup and breakdown take for your room. With us, setup, breakdown and all equipment are included, so there is no kit for your team to carry.

• Setup: schedule it before doors open or in a long break, not between sessions.
• Transitions: allow time for delegates to move rooms and find their teams.
• Noise bleed: loud games in one room can disturb a talk in the next. Ask the venue about room separation.
• AV: confirm screens, microphones and power in advance. We can supply audiovisual if the venue cannot.

Laravel Live used us for post-conference entertainment for 300 guests. Jonathan Behr, their CTO / VP of Engineering, said:

“We used Gold Tier Events for an after-conference social with 250+ guests, and I cannot say enough good things about Reece and his crew. They worked with us to understand and implement our requirements, and executed everything professionally and on time. From start to finish, everything was handled perfectly.”

Jonathan Behr, CTO / VP of Engineering, Laravel Live

That was an evening social rather than a daytime session. Our guide to conference evening entertainment covers that side.

Which options suit mixed abilities and remote attendees?

Choose formats with several roles, so no one has to do the part they are not comfortable with. In a VR escape room, for example, one player wears the headset while teammates at the table work from the manual.

• Mixed ability: pick team formats with a mix of roles and no prior skills required.
• Non-drinkers: build the session around the activity, not a bar.
• Remote or hybrid delegates: quizzes and discussion rounds are easier to extend online than hands-on kit. Check this with your supplier.
• Neurodiversity and access needs: tell your supplier early about noise, lighting and mobility needs so they can adapt the format. Confirm specifics with the supplier and venue.

Plan your conference breakouts

We run conference events across the UK, and we can suggest a mix of formats for your programme, with free venue finding if you still need a space. Tell us your group size, room and slot length and we will recommend what fits.

Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal.

FAQs

What are some interactive ideas for a conference?

Good options include a team quiz or game show round, Taskmaster-style challenges, a VR escape room, AI Robot Wars, a tablet treasure hunt, an indoor team-building game such as CSI Investigation, a Traitors-style game, drop-in arcade stations, an AR activation space, and facilitated discussion rounds. The chooser table above matches each to group size, space and session length.

What is the purpose of a breakout session?

A breakout session splits a large conference audience into smaller groups so people can take part rather than just listen. It gives delegates a chance to discuss, practise or play, meet people outside their own team, and take a break from the main stage. The activity you choose should serve whichever of those goals matters most.

What are some fun breakout room ideas for work?

Three that work well are a team quiz or game show round, a VR escape room where teams work together around a table, and a tablet treasure hunt for groups who can get outdoors. The VR escape room needs no VR experience, and all three are team formats, so mixed-ability groups can take part. Game shows and quizzes can be themed around your company.

What are some ideas for staff nights out?

For a staff night out, look at games and quizzes, a Traitors-style game, arcade stations, or a CSI-style investigation. These work best once the formal programme has finished. Our guides to conference evening entertainment and team-building activities for corporate events cover them in more detail, or see our team building events.