10 Fun Slack Channel Ideas That Bring Teams Together

Slack doesn’t have to be just for deadlines, updates and “quick questions.” When used well, Slack channels can become the digital heartbeat of your team – a place for connection, celebration and sharing wins. 

The best Slack channels work because they make it easy for people to contribute and connect. They create space for the good times, recognition and just being human alongside the work.

When teams intentionally design these spaces – and actually use them – Slack becomes more than a tool. It becomes a place where culture lives.

Slack Channels Don’t Build Culture – People Do

Fun, thoughtful Slack channels work because they recreate something remote teams are most at risk of losing: ambient connection. In physical offices, people absorb a steady stream of social cues – overheard praise, shared laughter, casual check-ins – that signal belonging without anyone having to say it explicitly. Remote work removes those cues, yes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be replaced. And when you consider human nature, the answer becomes pretty clear. 

You don’t have to look far to see that belonging is a core human need and a major driver of engagement in the office, not a workplace bonus. Yet remote workers are significantly more likely to report feelings of isolation – and it’s not because they’re missing the office water cooler chats! It comes down to those little moments of bonding that are so often missed when we don’t actively create them. This is where well-designed Slack channels play a critical role. Channels dedicated to recognition and celebrations provide visible social proof – a concept psychologists use to describe how people gauge what’s valued by observing others. When employees see appreciation and gratitude as a day-to-day part of work, it reinforces cultural norms far more effectively than policies or mission statements ever could.

Research shows that moments of positivity – like gratitude, recognition or shared joy – broaden thinking, improve problem-solving and strengthen relationships over time. Translation? Your team genuinely enjoys their work. Slack channels that surface good news, customer love or peer kudos aren’t just “nice”; they actively support better performance.

For remote teams especially, these channels reduce the psychological distance created by physical separation. They give people permission to show up as humans, not just roles, and create shared experiences that teams can rally around. These repeated micro-moments of connection build trust over time – and we’ve said it time and time again – trust is the foundation of any high-performing team.

So, how can you get there? It’s surprisingly easy – and it starts with open communication. Here are 10 fun Slack channel ideas that boost morale and make work feel more human.

1. #good-vibes

A dedicated space for positivity goes a long way.

This channel is all about sharing wins – big or small. That might be:

• Positive customer feedback
• Shoutouts for teammates
• Project milestones

Basically, these are the “This went better than expected” moments – note them down, celebrate them and enjoy looking over them at the end of the year. Need a little more inspo? Your good vibes channel is perfect for:  

• Sharing a screenshot of positive customer feedback or reviews
• Posting a small win that made your day easier
• Starting a weekly “Friday Feel-Good” thread
• Encouraging leaders to drop in appreciation notes
• Celebrating behind-the-scenes wins that don’t usually get airtime

Seeing good news regularly helps counterbalance the day-to-day grind and reminds teams that their work matters. Bonus points if leaders actively participate – it signals that celebrating wins is part of the culture, not a side activity.

2. #birthdays-and-celebrations

Because birthdays deserve more than a calendar reminder – and it’s not just about cake. Use this channel to celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, promotions and life milestones. It becomes the natural place to rally the team around moments that matter.

This is also a great spot to share a GroupTogether group card from the team. Instead of scattered “happy birthday!” messages, collect them in a group card with photos and GIFs to create a keepsake your coworker can revisit later.

3. #kudos

This channel is all about peer recognition, minus the awkwardness.

It’s for when you want to say:

• “Huge kudos to Alex for jumping in to help…”
• “Shoutout to the support team for handling a wild week”
• “Appreciation post for someone who made your day easier”

Research shows peer recognition is a powerful driver of morale – often even more impactful than top-down praise. So, turn it into a habit:

• Use a simple format: Kudos to ___ for ___
• Encourage peer-to-peer shoutouts
• Highlight kudos in team meetings or weekly recaps
• React with emojis to amplify recognition
• Tie kudos to values or behaviors you want to reinforce

Keeping it visible reinforces a culture of appreciation and adds those little moments of praise for both employees and management – not to mention remote teams too. You could say it’s option 5 in Michael Scott’s Mediator’s Tool Chest: Win, win, win!  

4. #wins-of-the-week

Progress deserves airtime – so why not make it a series? At the end of each week, invite the team to drop in one win – personal, team-based or customer-related. It helps teams reflect, reset and finish the week on a positive note. Need a little inspo? We’ve got you. End the week on a high:

• Ask everyone to share one win, no matter how small
• Include personal wins as well as work ones
• Let different team members kick off the thread each week
• Add a celebratory GIF thread
• Use it as a morale reset during busy periods

Bonus: You could also ask the team to give a shoutout to a special someone in the team who’s had an awesome win!

5. #random or #watercooler

The unofficial culture carrier. Memes, weekend photos, pet appearances, funny observations – this channel replaces the casual office chatter that remote teams often miss. There are no rules here (other than being respectful), and that’s exactly why it works. You might find you enjoy it even more than the actual water cooler!

Recreate casual connection and:

• Share pet photos, weekend snaps or travel pics
• Post light-hearted polls or questions
• Drop memes that reflect team life
• Encourage “no context” posts for fun
• Keep it unmoderated (within reason!) to maintain spontaneity

6. #customers-we-love

A morale boost with purpose – share positive customer stories, reviews, testimonials or “this is why we do what we do” moments. Connecting everyday work back to real impact helps teams feel proud and motivated.

To reconnect work to impact:

• Share standout customer quotes or testimonials
• Celebrate customer success stories
• Tag teams or individuals who contributed
• Add context about why the feedback matters
• Pin especially meaningful messages for longer visibility – you could have a pin of the week! 

It’s especially powerful for teams who don’t interact directly with customers but benefit from seeing the results of their work.

7. #new-hires-welcome

First impressions matter – not to mention, there’s an added bonus of reducing typical first-week awkwardness. Use this channel to welcome new starters with:

• Intro posts
• Welcome messages
• Fun stories from the team
• Encourage each team member to add a quick hello
• Share one helpful tip or “thing I wish I’d known”
• Link to a group Welcome to the Team Card (get everyone to add their photo!)
• Ask a fun intro question (e.g. coffee or tea?)
• Celebrate the end of their first week with a shoutout

Some welcoming, fun messages paired with a gorgeous group card helps new hires feel included from day one – especially when they’re joining remotely.

8. #something-i-learned-today

Culture isn’t just about fun – it’s about growth.

This channel can be used to share:

• Articles, podcasts or book recommendations
• Courses or learning opportunities
• Personal development wins

It signals that curiosity and learning are valued, not just output – and it’s also about making learning social rather than a chore or a solo activity. You can even share things like:

• Short takeaways from conferences, articles or podcasts
• “One thing I learned this week” prompts
• What you learned from completed courses or certifications

9. #gratitude

This can be a quieter, more reflective space. It might be:

• Thanking a teammate for support
• Acknowledging the team after a tough period
• Expressing gratitude for flexibility or kindness

These moments help build psychological safety and emotional connection over time.

10. #whats-on or #social-club

Because you’ve got to plan the party somewhere, right? Connection deserves planning space, and it doesn’t get easier than instant messaging, huddles and bringing the group together in one chat to make it happen. 

Use this channel to organize:

• Team lunches or coffees
• Virtual events
• Offsites or in-person meetups
• End-of-year parties

And if you really want to make it motivational, don’t forget to: 

• Share photos or recaps after events
• Invite suggestions for future activities
• Celebrate attendance, not just organisation
• Use the channel as the main source of info for socials

It keeps social events visible and inclusive, allowing the team to weigh in on their availability and interests – especially for distributed teams who might otherwise feel out of the loop.

FAQ: You Ask, We Answer

Q: How do you send a group welcome card to your team?

A: Sending a group welcome card is so simple – all you do is create a digital group card, generate a shareable link and share it with the team to sign . Coworkers can add their messages in their own time – no printing, scanning or chasing signatures required. Once everyone’s signed, send the completed card to the recipient or share it in your dedicated Slack channel (like #new-hires-welcome or #birthdays-and-celebrations). It creates one collective, meaningful moment rather than scattered Slack messages – and gives the person a keepsake they can revisit and even print.

Need a little extra help? Here’s our easy guide on How to Create a Group Card – you’ll have it done in the time it takes to make your morning cup of tea. 

Q: How do you send bulk eGift Cards to your team to celebrate wins?

A: GroupTogether bulk eGift Cards are a simple way to recognize team milestones, project launches or quarterly wins – without all the hassle typically involved in team gifting. 

Instead of manually organizing individual rewards, you can send multiple gift cards at once – we’re talking from 1 to 1000! Flexible options like the AnyCard allow each person to choose what suits them, making the gesture inclusive across different tastes and locations.

It’s especially effective for remote or distributed teams where physical gifts aren’t practical.

Q: What’s the best Slack channel for team celebrations?

A: A dedicated channel like #birthdays-and-celebrations or #team-wins works best. Keeping celebrations in one place makes them visible and consistent, which helps build cultural momentum. Over time, that channel becomes a reliable hub for positive moments.

Q: How do you encourage participation in Slack celebration channels?

A: Use clear prompts (“Drop a message below”), keep contributions short and low-pressure and make it easy to join via a single link. When leaders actively participate, it signals that these moments matter – which increases team engagement.  

Q: Are Slack celebration channels really effective for remote teams?

A: Yes – especially for remote teams. Without hallway chats or Friyay knock-off drinks, remote employees can miss the social cues that build belonging. Dedicated Slack channels for recognition, birthdays and wins make appreciation visible and accessible, helping reduce isolation and strengthen team connection.

Meet the experts

Melissa Evans

Content Writer

Ali + Julie

Co-Founders, GroupTogether.

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