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Tuesday 18 August 2026

Last week, VSL brought together a fantastic group of corporate clients across a range of industries for our Christmas Party Planning Tips & Trends 2026 panel discussion at the brand new TOGETHER 88 Wood Street; and what a great morning it was!

Christmas may still feel a little way off, but for corporate event planners, the festive season is already firmly on the agenda. It was brilliant to hear different perspectives on what businesses are looking for from their Christmas celebrations this year; from memorable experiences and creative concepts to the practicalities of planning the perfect party. Clare was joined by an expert panel including Amelia Fitzgerald (Venue Search London), Iona McKitterick (Story Events) and Oliver Gough (Moving Venue Caterers) who shared their expertise, insights, and predictions on the festive seasons ahead.

With budgets, guest expectations and venue availability all to consider, getting ahead of the Christmas party planning curve is more important than ever. 

And while there were plenty of trends to discuss, one thing was clear: the traditional Christmas party is evolving.

Companies are looking for experiences that feel more considered, more personal and more reflective of their people. A standard dinner followed by a DJ can still work brilliantly, but increasingly, organisers are looking for ways to give their guests something they won’t have experienced before.

Our top Christmas 2026 takeaways

1. Experiences are taking centre stage

The days of simply booking a room, adding a Christmas tree and calling it a party are long gone.

From immersive entertainment and interactive food stations to unusual formats and unexpected venues, companies are looking to create events that give guests something to talk about long after the last mince pie has disappeared.

For planners, this means thinking about the whole guest journey – from the moment guests arrive to the final drink of the evening.

2. Food and drink are becoming part of the entertainment

Christmas catering is no longer just about choosing between turkey and beef.

Interactive food concepts, sharing menus, live cooking, street-food-style stations and creative drinks experiences are all ways to make catering feel like part of the event itself, and with increasingly diverse workplaces, there is also a growing expectation that menus should cater thoughtfully for different dietary requirements without making anyone feel like an afterthought.

3. Companies want more flexibility

Not every Christmas celebration needs to be a traditional sit-down dinner.

Drinks receptions, late lunches, daytime parties, activity-led events and more relaxed social gatherings can all provide a different way to celebrate – particularly for companies with hybrid teams or employees who may not want a late-night party.

The right format ultimately depends on your people, your objectives and, of course, your budget.

4. The venue can make or break the experience

One of the biggest decisions when planning a Christmas event is choosing the right venue.

And this is where Venue Search London can help. Experts in our field for over 12 years, with a combined experience WELL beyond that, the team know the right people in the right places. 

TOGETHER 88 Wood Street

As well as a thoughtful panel discussion, breakfast bites, mimosas and coffee galore, guests had the opportunity to explore the new London conference venue, TOGETHER 88 Wood Street along with their soon to open Club 88 rooftop space.

This new large venue is designed around the idea that bringing people together should feel effortless, combining flexible event space, technology and hospitality in one contemporary setting. It is also brilliantly located for corporate guests, with several major City transport links within easy walking distance. 

The main 88 Wood Street space is a substantial 1,500 sqm event floor, designed to accommodate everything from conferences and panels to awards, exhibitions, dinners and larger-scale corporate celebrations. It can accommodate up to 500 guests theatre-style, 270 cabaret-style or 280 for a seated dinner, making it particularly flexible for corporate events.

For presentations and panel discussions, the integrated technology is a real highlight. The space features a 9-metre LED wall and high-spec in-house AV, while natural daylight runs throughout the main event space – a welcome change from the windowless conference environment many delegates will be familiar with.

The stunning new Club 88 sits on Level 12 of 88 Wood Street. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a lounge, an outdoor terrace with a 6m LED wall, and views across St Paul’s, the City, and the Barbican.

It works as a standalone hire for groups of 10 to 100, and equally well as a VIP floor alongside a larger event downstairs. The three rooms open and combine as the event requires. An in-house team manages everything from arrival to departure. Nothing is outsourced.

A big thank you to our clients

Our panel was ultimately about one thing: helping our clients plan better events.

It was brilliant to see such a varied group of corporate event planners come together, share experiences and discuss what they are seeing within their own organisations and industries.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, to our fantastic panel speakers for sharing their knowledge and to the team at TOGETHER for hosting us and giving our guests the opportunity to experience this exciting new City venue for themselves.

Planning your Christmas party?

If you’re still deciding what your Christmas 2026 event should look like, now is a very good time to start.

Whether you’re looking for a spectacular Christmas party, an intimate festive dinner, a drinks reception or something completely different, Venue Search London can help you find the right space.

We know London’s event venues inside out and can recommend options based on your guest numbers, budget, location and the kind of experience you want to create.

And the best part? Our venue finding service is completely free for corporate clients.

So, if our festive panel has given you some ideas, but you’re not quite sure where to start, get in touch with the Venue Search London team. We’ll help you turn those ideas into an event your guests will actually remember.