The Traitors has become appointment television for millions, and it’s no surprise that fans are clamouring to recreate the show’s gothic atmosphere and nail-biting tension for themselves. Whether you’re planning a celebration with friends or organising a memorable corporate event, hosting your own Traitors-themed party delivers drama, laughter, and unforgettable moments of betrayal. Here’s how to pull it off.
Set The Scene
Atmosphere is everything when it comes to The Traitors. Transform your space with moody lighting – think candles, dimmed lamps, and strategic spotlights to create shadows. A dark colour palette of deep reds, blacks, and golds will evoke the show’s Scottish castle aesthetic.
If you’re going all-out, consider hiring period furniture or draping fabrics to create that Gothic grandeur. Background music should be suitably ominous – think classical strings with a sinister edge.
Dress Code: Cloaks & Formality
Encourage party guests to embrace the drama with formal attire. Long dresses, sharp suits, and – crucially – cloaks for the Traitors themselves will help everyone get into character. You might even create custom name badges or place cards to assign roles before guests arrive, building anticipation from the moment they receive their invitation.
The Game Mechanics
The heart of any Traitors party is the game itself. You’ll need to secretly assign roles (Traitors and Faithfuls) at the start. Traitors should meet privately to coordinate their ‘murders’, whilst Faithfuls must work together to identify the traitors amongst them.
Structure your evening around rounds: missions or challenges where players can earn immunity or advantages, followed by dramatic roundtable discussions where accusations fly and banishments are decided by group vote.
For those seeking a polished experience, professional murder mystery hosts can elevate your party significantly. These experienced facilitators manage the game flow, maintain tension, and ensure everyone stays engaged – particularly valuable for larger groups or corporate events where you want guaranteed entertainment value.
Food & Drink: Keep It Atmospheric
Lean into the show’s Scottish setting with your catering. A whisky bar, Scottish cheeses, smoked salmon, and shortbread make thematic sense whilst remaining crowd-pleasers. For a dramatic touch, serve drinks in vintage glassware and present food on slate or wooden boards.
Consider naming cocktails after the show – ‘The Faithful’, ‘The Murder’, or ‘The Banishment’ all work brilliantly.
Read: 15 incredible (and surprising) whisky and food pairings
The Roundtable Moment
If there’s one element worth investing time in, it’s your roundtable setup. A large circular or oval table is ideal, allowing everyone to see each other during those crucial accusation moments. Elevated seating, dramatic lighting focused on the centre, and a bell or gavel for ceremonial moments will amplify the tension. This is where your party transforms from a gathering into genuine theatre.
Consider Professional Help
Whilst ambitious hosts can certainly DIY their Traitors experience, many are turning to professional party planning platforms to handle the logistics. Services like Poptop UK offer fully immersive Traitors-themed experiences complete with actors, props, and structured gameplay – particularly appealing for corporate events or milestone celebrations where you want to be a participant rather than the organiser.
The Corporate Angle
Traitors parties have proven especially popular in corporate settings, where companies are seeking engaging alternatives to traditional team-building. The game naturally encourages communication, strategic thinking, and collaboration – whilst remaining thoroughly entertaining.
For dispersed teams working remotely, a Traitors-themed event provides a genuine reason to gather in person and forge stronger connections through shared experience.
The Bottom Line
Hosting a Traitors party requires commitment to atmosphere and careful game management, but the payoff is worth it.
Whether you’re orchestrating everything yourself or bringing in professional help, the combination of strategy, social deduction, and theatrical drama creates an event your guests will talk about long after the final banishment. In a world of forgettable gatherings, a well-executed Traitors party offers something genuinely memorable – and deliciously treacherous.
