20 Best Trivia Night Ideas to Boost Your Event In 2025

Do you know that a few trivia questions can fill the seats at your events, whether big or small? All this with the attendees enjoying interacting and participating in your event. 

The idea for trivia night is wide open. Choose a night and a theme, invite your people, and that’s it. 

If you are looking for trivia night ideas, this is your guide. Let us walk you through the 20 best ideas to boost your event ROI. 

What is a Trivia Night?

A trivia night is an event where the attendees are asked to form a team to compete for a prize. Restaurant or pub owners often use these events to attract more customers. Trivia nights are a great way to increase customer interaction and make people visit the place again. 

Why Host a Trivia Night?

Hosting a trivia night unites people at your event/ place for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition. It’s a versatile event that can be tailored to different types of audiences, such as casual get-togethers or corporate team-building exercises. Here are some benefits of trivia nights that your event can leverage. 

• More Visibility: Trivia nights can help brands gain recognition as more people will talk about it if they enjoyed it. They can also create a memorable visitor experience and aid in word-of-mouth marketing. 
• Encourages Networking Collaboration: Trivia Night is a great team-building activity that encourages collaboration, communication, and a problem-solving attitude. We are making it a perfect choice for corporate events. 
• Entertaining: Trivia nights during your events can add an entertainment flair. They help people come together, spend quality time, and do everything. 

Categories of Trivia Nights

Here are some of the major categories of Trivia Nights. Take a look. 

1. General Knowledge

The mix of various topics tests the participants on various subjects. This is ideal for trivia lovers who love diverse information and enjoy challenging their memory. Questions can vary from science to literature, leaving an open space for participants. 

2. Pop Culture

This focuses on contemporary trends, celebrities, and entertainment phenomena. Questions include movies, music, social media, and fashion appealing to youthful audiences, appealing to youthful audiences and those who stay updated on cultural shifts.

3. Sports

This category engages fans with questions about achievements, records, and athletes across various sports. Perfect for sports lovers, it captures the excitement of competitions and sporting history. 

4. Science & Nature

This category helps players explore biology, chemistry, physics, Computer science, and environmental science topics—trivia nights in this category challenge participants’ understanding of the natural and scientific world. 

5. History

This category tests the knowledge of significant events, figures, and timelines across civilization. Participants can delve into ancient empires or modern history, making it appealing to history buffs and learners. 

6. Geography

This category constitutes the capitals of states, landmarks, and natural features like caves, volcanos, etc. Besides, it invites participants to showcase their awareness of the world, enhancing their understanding of global locations and cultures. 

7. Literature

This section focuses on classic and contemporary works, authors, and literary terms. Participants engage with questions on novels, poetry, and famous quotes, making it exciting for book lovers and writers. 

8. Food & Drink

This category dives into culinary arts, ingredients, and global cuisines. Trivia enthusiasts can test their knowledge of recipes, cooking techniques, and famous dishes while celebrating the food culture. 

9. Music

This category includes various genres, artists, and historical milestones in music. It also engages participants through sound clips, song lyrics, and artist trivia, perfect for music lovers. 

10. TV Shows & Movies

This category covers classic films, dialogues, new releases, popular TV series like FRIENDS, The Big Bang Theory, and more. This can become even more engaging by testing the knowledge of plots, dialogues, and actors; it captivates the attention of cinephiles. 

20 Best Trivia Night Ideas

Here are some of the best trivia night ideas that you cab

1. Classic General Knowledge Trivia

Classic general knowledge trivia questions are common questions meant to test knowledge of facts with definitive answers. 

This general knowledge trivia can include all the trivia questions, from current affairs to historical incidents. Questions can include topics like the prime minister of a country. 

2. Movie Buff Showdown

Movies are one of the best topics for Trivia nights- since they include entertainment industry-based trivia questions. 

Bar owners can rely on this bar promotion strategy and expect a crowd to come through their doors. As owners, you can dedicate a theme or genre to your night, such as a particular movie or series. You can also play movie or song clips to make it exciting and engaging as part of the challenges. 

You can also encourage attendees to wear costumes and bring props to add a fun, engaging element to your trivia night. 

3. Social Media Wall

Set up a screen or projector that displays a live feed of social media posts with your event hashtag. Encourage participants to share photos, answers, and comments on social media during the event.

4. Sports Fanatics Challenge

Everyone has favorite sports to watch and play, from football to hockey. Picking sports trivia as the theme for the night can be a great icebreaker for a pub struggling to maintain engagement. The best part is that sports can be more than just entertainment. Organizing sports trivia night can be beneficial during any major sports event. For example, during FIFA, you can organize football-related trivia nights, cashing in on the ongoing enthusiasm for Football. 

5. The 90s Nostalgia Quiz

The long-lasting contribution of the 90’s has always been underappreciated. Whether it is a slip dress or a bell bottom in the trend, everything around us is a 90’s gift to us. Considering that the host can organize a trivia night dedicated to a particular theme of the 90s, like fashion. Questions can include names of the styles and their designers. To make things even more interesting, ask your participants to dress up in a way relevant to the themes. 

6. Geography Gauntlet 

Geography Gauntlet Trivia Night is a fun event where people come together to test their geography knowledge. The event typically features a series of rounds, each focusing on different aspects of geography, such as world capitals, landmarks, countries and cultural trivia. With questions ranging from easy to challenging, it ensures that everyone can contribute to the game. 

7. Food & Drink Extravaganza

A Food and Drink extravaganza trivia night is a fun blend of tasting and learning about food and drinks. It’s perfect for anyone who loves cooking or trying new beverages. To start the night, you can decorate the venue with a theme highlighting popular dishes and drinks worldwide—trivia questions. 

You can also include rounds where the players taste the food and drinks and guess what’s inside the dish. Prizes could also include a gourmet food basket, or gift cards from a famous restaurant. 

8. Science and Nature Exploration

The science and nature exploration trivia invites the participants to explore the natural world; it will cover many topics, such as plants, animals, and science ideas. You can decorate the space with leaves, flowers, and science to set the mood for the trivia night. Questions include identifying different plants and animals or discussing critical scientific discoveries. Add a scavenger hunt or a little science experiment to make the trivia night even more fun. 

9. History Buffs Battle

The History enthusiast in your circle will love the history trivia night. This event challenges participants with questions about essential facts, famous people, different periods, and places. To make the event fun, you can include miniature replicas of historical monuments, items like idols, and more. Questions in this trivia can range from ancient history to modern events, allowing the participants to show off their knowledge and feel included. 

10. TV Trivia Night

TV show trivia nights are a popular choice for trivia enthusiasts. These events can be themed around specific shows like “Friends” or “Game Of Thrones” or feature a mix of questions from various programs. We can incorporate visual elements such as clips and dialogue to make the night more engaging. Interactive elements, such as reenacting the scene, can add a fun dimension and flair to the game. 

11. Literary Legends Trivia

This is the best idea if you want the attendees to explore the world of literature and its remarkable authors. You can cover many topics in this game, including historical periods and literary genres. 

It forms an opportunity for the participants can test their knowledge about classic and contemporary writers, leading to more participation. 

Questions in this quiz include information about novels, authors, and significant awards and achievements in all fields of literature. Hosting Literary Legends trivia night can help the host bring together book lovers and deepen everyone’s understanding and love for literature. 

12. “Guess the Song” Challenge

The “Guess the Song” Challenge can be an excellent idea for trivia night. Participants or hosts can take turns playing short clips of songs, and the others must guess the song in a limited time. This game can be played in groups or individually.

To add excitement, players can set a time limit for guessing or offer points based on how quickly someone answers. You can also incorporate themes or genres, such as focusing on 90s music, to make it more interesting. 

13. Around the World Trivia

Around the world, Triava refers to a quiz format focused on general knowledge about different countries, continents, geographical features, capitals, landmarks, and cultures from around the globe, essentially testing the understanding of world geography, politics, and more. 

Questions can come from the longest river to the tallest mountains in the world. Trivia can be tailored for different skill levels. 

14. Celebrity Trivia

Celebrity trivia is a fascinating world that combines the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry with fun, quirky facts about our favorite celebrities. It’s a delightful way to engage with pop culture and learn more about celebrities beyond their on-screen personalities. From surprising childhood stories to unusual hobbies, celebrity trivia reveals the human side of these larger-than-life figures. 

Fans often enjoy testing their knowledge or quizzing friends with fun facts about iconic celebrities. For example, do you know that Natalie Portman speaks several languages frequently? 

15. DIY Pub Trivia

DIY pub trivia is a fantastic way to bring the excitement of pub quizzes right into your home. Whether hosting friends for a game night or looking for a fun activity during a gathering, creating your trivia challenge can be an enjoyable and engaging experience. Select a theme, such as movie history or pop culture, to guide your questions. You can choose categories that interest your group, ensuring everyone has a chance to shine. 

16. True or False Trivia

This trivia game format presents participants with statements that they must determine whether they are correct or not. It can cover various topics, from history and science to pop culture and sports, making it suitable for diverse audiences. 

The simplicity of this game makes it easy to execute and play, encouraging participation from everyone. It can be played individually or in teams, making it an excellent option for gatherings, parties, or educational settings. Participants enjoy guessing and getting their answers right while learning new faces. 

17. Science Fiction and Fantasy Quiz

This is a fun way for organizers to invite people from the science fiction niche. Participants are required to answer questions about popular books, movies, and sci-fi characters. Science fiction often includes futuristic technology, space travel, and airlines, while fantasy features magical creatures, wizards, and mythical lands. 

This quiz has questions covering topics like famous Sci-fi authors, iconic stories, and memorable quotes. Learning about these fantasies and discovering new interests is a great way to engage a larger audience. 

18. Themed Costume Trivia

This activity combines dressing up and quizzing at the same time. Hosts ask attendees to dress up as per a specific theme, such as movies, historical figures, or animals. This helps them make the atmosphere much more entertaining and thematic. During the event, questions are asked about the theme, and players take turns answering. This mix of trivia and costumes adds an exciting twist, allowing people to show their creativity and share their knowledge.

For example, if the theme is superheroes, participants might dress as their favorite characters while answering questions about comic book history or superhero powers. 

This activity is great for parties or community events, as it helps the hosts encourage teamwork, friendly competition, and loads of laughter. 

19. Emoji Quiz

An Emoji Quiz is a fun activity in which players use emojis to represent words, phrases, or movie titles. Each emoji gives a hint about what it means. For example, a smiling face and piz emoji might represent the phrase ‘.

People would need to guess what each emoji means. Emoji Quiz Trivia is prevalent in social media, where people share their quizzes for others to solve. It’s a simple and enjoyable game for all ages.  

20. Around the Decades Trivia

Decade Trivia is a fun and engaging activity that allows you to explore interesting facts and events from different periods. Each decade, the 20s, 60s, or 90s, has its unique culture, music, fashion, and significant happenings. Trivia questions might cover popular movies, famous personalities, or worldwide historical events.

For example, in the 1980s, you could be quizzed about top music hits or influential political changes. It’s a great way to learn about history while having fun with friends. Playing decades of trivia can spark nostalgia for older participants and introduce the newer generation to the rich past. It opens up a conversation about how life has changed over the years, making it entertaining.

Tips for a Successful Trivia Night

Here are some of the tips for a successful trivia night. 

• Choose the Right Format: Decide whether your trivia night will be individual play or team-based. Team-based trivia can create companionship and make it more engaging. 

• Select Diverse Categories: Incorporate a variety of topics to cater to different interests. Popular categories include history, pop culture, sports, and science, which helps broaden participation. 

• Craft Balanced Question: Ensure your questions vary in level of difficulty. Mix easy, medium, and challenging questions to keep both seasoned trivia buffs and casual players. 

• Offer Prizes: Provide incentives to encourage participation. These could be gift cards, themed merchandise, or even trophies for the winning team.

• Set Clear Rules: Before starting, clearly outline the rules and format of the trivia night. This will prevent confusion and ensure everyone understands how the game will proceed. 

Conclusion

Trivia night should be fun for everyone, and the theme should resonate with your attendees. If things are not working for you, try switching the themes and seeing what works. 

We have mentioned nearly 20 trivia night ideas that can help you boost your event ROI. 

So, instead of looking for more ideas, start with the ones on the list and see if your event gets the boot it deserves.