Trivia ideas: 10 fun themes to lead with

Create a form in minutes with Wixel’s online form builder →

We all love that feeling of knowing the answer before anyone else. Whether it’s shouting out the name of a song on the radio or correcting a friend about a movie quote, showing off our knowledge is human nature. That’s why trivia is such a powerful tool for connecting with people. It turns passive followers into active participants and adds a layer of fun to your brand that standard posts or content just can't match.

But coming up with fresh questions when understanding how to create a great trivia game isn't always easy. You don't want to be too obscure, but you also don't want to be boring. You need a mix of challenge and entertainment that keeps people guessing and, more importantly, keeps them playing. If you're stuck staring at a blank page, we’ve got you covered. Here are ten trivia ideas to help you host a game night (or a social media challenge) that your audience will actually enjoy.

TL;DR: Best trivia ideas for engagement

Need to get the game started fast? Here is the cheat sheet for your next quiz.

10 trivia ideas to challenge and engage your audience

Here are ten trivia themes that work for almost any crowd, from casual social media followers to serious customers.

1. The pop culture vulture

2. Fact or fiction: Industry edition

3. The zoom-in picture round

4. Guess the sound

5. The nostalgia trip

6. Emoji pictionary

7. Local legends

8. Who said that

9. Weird science and tech

10. Seasonal specials

01. The pop culture vulture

This trivia idea is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Why? Because pop culture trivia covers movies, TV shows, celebrity news and viral internet moments. And who doesn't love everything about at least one of those? It’s a great icebreaker because the barrier to entry is low—most people watch Netflix or listen to the radio.

You can get more specific with themes like Oscar Winners of the 90s or keep it broad with Viral Memes of 2026. If you run a creative business, try quizzing your audience on famous movie posters or iconic logos, it's a lighthearted way to get comments flowing.

02. Fact or fiction: Industry edition

Every field has its misconceptions so use trivia to debunk them. This format serves a dual purpose, it’s fun for the audience but it also positions you as the expert who knows the truth. For example,

As a skincare brand you could ask:

• True or False: You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day. (Its of course false, by the way).

As a web designer you could ask:

• True or False: More features make a website faster. It’s a subtle and often fun way to educate your potential clients without lecturing them.

03. The zoom-in picture round

Visual trivia stops the scroll and makes people more likely to engage with it. Take a photo of a common object, or even one of your own product and zoom in until it’s almost unrecognizable. Ask your audience to guess what it is. This is one of the simplest yet most engaging trivia ideas on the list.

This works incredibly well on social media, specifically on Instagram Stories or TikTok. You can do a reveal in the next post as well which gets people staring at your content for much longer than they normally would.

04. Guess the sound

If you're hosting a live stream, a webinar or recording a podcast, an audio trivia idea is a fantastic way to mix things up. Play a two-second clip of a famous song, a sound effect or even a voice and ask listeners to identify it.

For a business twist, record sounds from your office or workshop—the sound of a coffee machine, a printer or a specific tool you use—and see who knows their stuff.

05. The nostalgia trip

Nothing brings people together like the good old days. Pick a decade—the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s—and build a round of questions around it. Think retro toys, discontinued snacks or old-school technology (remember dial-up internet?).

This type of trivia triggers an emotional response because people love to reminisce and they'll likely tag their friends in the comments to share the memory. It’s excellent for building a sense of community among people of a similar age group.

06. Emoji pictionary

For this trivia round idea, create titles of movies, books or songs using only a string of emojis and ask your audience to decode them.

For example, a ghost emoji + a Buster (🚫) symbol = Ghostbusters.

It’s a simple, visual puzzle that people can solve quickly on their phones. It’s perfect for platforms where attention spans are short and you want quick, snappy engagement. You can make them as easy or hard as you think your audience can handle.

07. Local legends

If you're a local business, you can lean into your geography for your main trivia idea. Ask questions about your city’s history, famous landmarks or local oddities.

• What year was our town hall built?

• Which famous musician was born here?

This signals more than anything that you're part of the local fabric. It resonates deeply with customers who live nearby and makes your brand feel like a neighbor rather than just another faceless company.

08. Who said that?

Quotes are powerful but they're often misattributed. Create a Who Said That? round featuring famous quotes from history, literature or business leaders.

You can make it multiple choice to keep it accessible. To make it relevant to your brand, use quotes from industry pioneers or influential figures that align with your values. It’s a smarter, more academic feel trivia idea that works well for LinkedIn or professional newsletters.

09. Weird science and tech

Did you know that bananas are radioactive? Or that the first computer bug was an actual moth? Strange facts stick in people’s brains which is why a Weird Science or Tech Trivia round is great for surprising your audience.

Focus on the bizarre, the unexpected or the mind-blowing, the kinds of facts people love to share at dinner parties ("Hey, did you know...?") and on social media.

10. Seasonal specials

Aligning your trivia idea with the calendar is a fun thing to do. In October, do a spooky movie trivia. In December, ask about holiday traditions around the world. In summer, quiz people on famous beach destinations.

This keeps your content fresh and timely. It’s an easy win because people are already in the mindset of that holiday or season. It also gives you a predictable structure for your content calendar throughout the year.

Be inspired:

• Poll ideas

• Survey ideas

• Quiz ideas

• Questionnaire ideas

Trivia Ideas FAQ