Christmas Quiz 2026

 WARNING: THE RULES THIS YEAR ARE A BIT WORDY, SO SKIP TO THE BOTTOM PARAGRAPH IF YOU WANT A TL;DR

This year, the theme (chosen by last year’s runner up The Three Wise Platypuses) is:

This year’s theme is this

It’s a form of poetry

But what is it called?

When you sign up, include a note saying what you think the theme is for 50 points before you even start!

If you can't work out what the theme is but want to sign up anyway, say so in your email and you'll get 

Full explanation of what that means here. If you can, email xmasmoviequiz@gmail.com, saying you want to join the quiz and including your team name.

Of course, the usual rules apply when submitting a team name:

1. No real names (of you or anyone else)*

2. No offensive language

3. Maximum of 4 words per name

*Someone has asked if you can use famous names (eg Michael Buble Bath) in your team name. If your real name is not that name, that is fine.

I also reserve the right to reject any name based on any reasonable objection of mine.

If you correctly guess the theme, you will be awarded a bonus 50 points before the quiz even starts!

Once you've guessed the theme correctly, you'll be given the first clue, for a bonus 100 points!

Can't guess the theme based on that clue? Not a problem. Just say that in your email and you'll still be signed up, but you won't be given the bonus clue until you guess correctly.

The bonus clue and guessing the theme are allowed until Midnight GMT 30 November.

TL;DR: To sign up, email xmasmoviequiz@gmail.com, saying you want to join the quiz, including what you think the clue above means. Also include your team name. 

FAQs

Can I tell my friends/family/co-workers/enemies/pets about the quiz?

Of course! The more the merrier!

I'm only playing as an individual. Do I still need a team name?

Yes, you will need a team name. Anything is allowed, as long as it adheres to the rules above.

I already signed up, but I've changed my mind about my team name. Can I change it?

Yes, you can change your team name as many times as you like until 30 November. However, once the quiz starts, your name will be locked in and you won't be able to change it.

I can't think of a team name! What do I do?

Not a problem. I'll come up with a name for you which you can later change if you want to. There's also some tips here.

The quiz has started but I forgot to sign up! Can I still join?

You can, but depending on how late it is, you may find it hard to catch up with other teams.

I played in a previous year but I want to change my team name. Is that allowed?

Definitely! In fact I recommend it! The only problem is that other teams might not recognise who you are.

How many people are allowed in a team?

Personally I would recommend a maximum of six. More than that could be viewed as cheating. With that said, I've got no way of checking, so you could have hundreds of people in your team and I would be powerless to stop you.

Can you send clues via another way instead of email?

Sorry but I lack the technical expertise to do that. If you know how, your technical expertise would be greatly appreciated.

Will it be automated this year?

I hope so. I am in talks with people who hopefully know how to do that. 

Can my team be sent clues to more than one email address?

Yes, but I would prefer it if all answers came from one address. Give me all the relevant email addresses in your signup email.

What is the prize?

Unfortunately, as this is a completely free endeavour, there is only a prize for the winner, that being to choose the theme for next year's quiz.

Can people in other countries sign up?

Yes, but all clue release and answer times will be GMT

Will I find out who the other teams are?

When you sign up, you will be asked if you give consent for your real identity to be revealed. If you agree, at the end of the quiz your identity will be revealed to the other participants. However, your identity will never be broadcast on the blog.