How to play New Year's Eve bingo
New Year's Eve bingo is regular bingo with party words in place of numbers. Each player gets a different 5x5 card with a FREE square in the middle. A caller reads out one word at a time, and players mark it if it's on their card. The first player with five marked squares in a row, across, down or corner to corner, calls "Bingo!" and wins the round.
- 1Give each player a card and something to mark squares with.
- 2Everyone marks the FREE square in the center.
- 3The caller draws a word, reads it out loud and sets it aside.
- 4Anyone who has that word on their card marks it.
- 5The first player with five in a row calls "Bingo!" and reads the row back.
- 6The caller checks those words against the ones already called. If they all match, that player wins the round.
Play a few rounds through the evening and save the last one for the hour before the countdown.
What's on the cards
The cards draw from 60 New Year's Eve words. There is the countdown itself (Ball Drop, Times Square, Midnight, Auld Lang Syne), party gear (Party Hat, Noisemaker, Confetti, Glow Sticks), snacks (Popcorn, Pizza, Midnight Snack, Sparkling Cider) and the year ahead (Resolution, Vision Board, Fresh Start, Time Capsule).
The list has no alcohol on it, so the cards work for a family party, a sleepover or a neighborhood get-together. Each card picks 24 of the 60 words and mixes them in a random order, so no two cards in your set match.
Add your own title, such as "Patel Family New Year's Eve" or "Room 6 New Year Bingo", and it prints on every card. Choose 1 big card per page or 2 smaller cards per page. Both fit US Letter paper.
Call it from paper, a phone or the TV
Pick the way that suits your night.
Caller slips
Check "Add caller slips" and every word prints as a slip. Cut them apart, mix them in a party hat and draw one at a time.
Call on this phone
Tap Next and the phone shows a random word to read out. It keeps the list of words already called, so checking a "Bingo!" is quick.
Watch the countdown
Turn on a New Year's Eve broadcast and skip the caller. Players mark a square when they see or hear it, like Confetti, Fireworks or Cheering Crowd. One person decides if a square counts.
Want games with no paper at all? Our New Year's Eve games run in the browser on one phone, with no app and no sign-up. Funny Would You Rather questions and charades are easy picks while you wait for midnight.
Tips for printing and playing
- Print on cardstock so the cards hold up through a long night of rounds.
- Laminate the cards, or slide them into sheet protectors, and use dry-erase markers. Wipe them clean and play again next year.
- Use small candies, buttons or pennies as markers. Skip real confetti, which blows right off the card.
- Choose 1 card per page for big, easy-to-read squares, or 2 per page to save paper and ink.
- Set cards and markers on a side table so guests can join a round when they arrive.
- Keep prizes small: a party hat, a glow stick or first pick of the midnight snack.
New Year's Eve bingo variations
Change what counts as a win as the night goes on.
Four corners
Mark the four corner squares to win. It is quick, so it makes a good first round while people learn the game.
Blackout
Mark every square on the card. Save it for the last round before the countdown, with the best prize.
Letter N
Mark the left column, the right column and the diagonal from the top left corner to the bottom right. N is for New Year.
Resolution bingo
Before claiming the prize, the winner shares one goal for the new year.
Team cards
Pairs or small groups share one card, so guests who just arrived can jump straight in.
Who New Year's Eve bingo is for
New Year's Eve bingo suits a mix of ages, because players only need to listen and mark a square. It fits a family party at home, a neighborhood get-together or a sleepover, and you can print up to 60 different cards for a big group. Teachers can play it the first week back in January, and for the rest of the month, winter bingo cards work too.
For a family New Year's Eve with kids, hold a "kid midnight" at 8 or 9 p.m., with its own countdown, noisemakers and confetti. Bingo fills the evening before it:
- 1After dinner: a four corners round while everyone learns the game.
- 2Snack time: a regular round, five in a row.
- 3The last hour before your countdown: a blackout round for the best prize.
- 4The countdown: the last winner gets to lead it.
Anyone still awake for the real midnight can play another round while they wait. For more ideas, see our family game night guide and our party games for large groups.
Questions
Are these New Year's Eve bingo cards free?
Yes. You can make and print up to 60 cards at a time for free. There is no sign-up and nothing to download, except a PDF if you choose to save one.
Is every card different?
Yes. Each card picks 24 of the 60 words and mixes them in a random order, with a FREE square in the center. No two cards in your set are the same.
Are the cards family friendly?
Yes. The only drinks on the list are Sparkling Cider, Fruit Punch and Hot Cocoa. The cards suit a family party, a classroom or the office.
Can we play while watching the ball drop?
Yes. Skip the caller and mark squares as you see or hear them on the broadcast, like Confetti, Fireworks and Countdown. Pick one person to decide if a square counts.
What is a kid midnight?
An early countdown, at 8 or 9 p.m. for example, for anyone who won't stay up until 12. Play bingo through the evening and let the last winner lead the countdown.
How do I call the game?
Check "Add caller slips" to print every word as a slip to cut apart and draw from a bowl. Or use Call on this phone: tap Next for a random word, and the phone keeps the list of words already called.
Can I print 2 cards on one page?
Yes. Choose 2 per page to save paper, or 1 per page for bigger squares. Both fit US Letter paper.