Players: 6 or more
Time: 10 to 15 minutes
You need: Chairs, music
Ages: 4 and above
Type: Party games

Who it suits and when to play

Musical Chairs suits birthday parties, school functions and family get-togethers, from age four upward. Adults enjoy it as much as children when they play separately. It needs space, steady chairs and a floor that is not slippery. If elders or very small children want to join, play a round for them alone at a walking pace.

How to play

Place chairs in a circle, facing outwards, one fewer than the number of players.
Start the music. Players walk around the chairs in one direction.
Stop the music suddenly. Everyone sits on the nearest free chair.
The player left standing is out. Remove one chair and start again.
The player who wins the last chair is the winner.

Tips and variations

No pushing and no touching the chairs while walking. The person running the music should face away so the stops are fair.
No chairs? Use newspaper sheets on the floor as "islands", or cushions.
For a kinder version with small children, nobody goes out: remove chairs and let them share, until all must fit on two or three chairs.

Common problems and how to fix them

Children push or pull chairs. Place the chairs alternately facing in and out, and remove from the game anyone who pushes.
Two players sit on one chair. The one sitting further back on the seat stays. If it is not clear, both stay and two chairs go next time.
The person at the music peeks at the players. The music-keeper stands with their back to the circle.

More party games

Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.