Icebreakers for Big Groups

Apr 17, 2025

When you’re hosting a large group—whether it’s a three-day summit, a conference, or any big event—you need an icebreaker that isn’t just a 10-minute burst of awkward energy. You need something sustainable. Something that builds real connections over time.

Let’s break down one of my favorite icebreakers for big groups—an activity that acts like software running in the background, creating ongoing engagement and connection without eating up valuable session time.

Rethinking Icebreakers for Large Groups

A lot of traditional icebreakers for large groups try to cram connection into a few forced moments. But the best ones, especially when you’re working with 100+ people, function more like environmental design. You install them once—like software—and they run quietly and meaningfully in the background.

Here’s how to do exactly that with something I call:

The Art of Connection Wall: A Meaningful Icebreaker for Big Groups

Years ago, I was asked to speak at a large conference. They wanted an interactive element that would last beyond the opening remarks. So we created something called The Art of Connection—a super simple yet powerful methodology that uses three rules and one giant visual.

3 Simple Step-by-step Group Instructions

  1. Ask a question. Spark a conversation by asking somebody a We! Connect Card question
  2. Make a connection. Actually engage and listen—don’t just check a box.
  3. Color a segment of the wall. After making a meaningful connection, participants are invited to color in part of a giant mural—or a small coloring page at their table

A Visual Icebreaker That Builds Over Time

The brilliance of this method is the visual representation of human connection. Imagine:

  • A huge wall (or even a simple printed board) with a beautiful design divided into colorable segments.

  • As people connect, they go to the wall and color a section.

  • Over the course of a few days, that wall fills up with color, slowly turning into a gorgeous piece of art.

It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want:

  • A $70,000 installation, or

  • An 8.5×11″ sheet of paper.

The point is: the visual becomes a symbol of how many meaningful conversations have happened.

Why This Works So Well for Big Groups

This ongoing icebreaker subtly invites fun icebreakers for adults, without forcing them. It creates:

  • Conversation starters for people who may be unsure how to engage.

  • A visual display of belonging, trust, and participation.

  • A lasting memory tied to meaningful interaction—not just content.

You can even invite people to write the name of the person they connected with or the insight they gained in their section of the wall. Over time, it becomes a record of transformation.

Ending with Gratitude Instead of Applause

Now imagine the closing of your event…

Instead of the typical round of applause for sponsors or the “safe flight home” speech, you roll out the Connection Wall and say:

“Look what we created together.”

Then invite everyone to:

  • Find someone they connected with.

  • Say thank you.

  • Share one thing they appreciated from that interaction.

That’s more than an icebreaker—it’s a ritual. A moment that leaves people feeling seen, connected, and grateful.

And trust me—people may show up for the content once, but they’ll come back again and again for the connection.

Want Help Creating This?

This whole idea can be as DIY or as pro as you want it to be. If you’re looking for tools that make it easier to spark these kinds of moments, check out our FREE printable cards, book excerpts, and more tools at weand.me/tools

Or go all out and bring me in for a full on live Connected Conference experience.

Related Tools and Resources

Want even more ways to build connection at your next event?

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