Quick answer
Hanukkah bingo uses cards filled with words from the Festival of Lights, such as Menorah, Dreidel, Latkes, Gelt and Maccabees. A caller draws words one at a time, players mark matches with chocolate gelt or blue markers, and the first to complete a row, column or diagonal wins. It's an easy family game for any of the eight nights.
Preview: first 4 of 8
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Courage | Gimel | Miracle | Dreidel | Shin |
Judah | Songs | Blue | White | Festival of Lights |
Friends | Jelly Donut | FREE | Hey | Nun |
Shamash | Chag Sameach | Matches | Brisket | Blessings |
Latkes | Kislev | Star of David | Hanukkiah | Candles |
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Star of David | Gelt | White | Sufganiyot | Dreidel |
Shin | Silver | Miracle | Matches | Grandparents |
Temple | Window | FREE | Jerusalem | Kugel |
Rededication | Hey | Festival of Lights | Brisket | Wrapping Paper |
Latkes | Gifts | Sour Cream | Happy Hanukkah | Light |
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
White | Friends | Shin | Traditions | Gelt |
Nun | Rededication | Songs | Shamash | Menorah |
Kugel | Light | FREE | Jelly Donut | Matches |
Gifts | Applesauce | Dreidel | Jerusalem | Blessings |
Sour Cream | Latkes | Chag Sameach | Judah | Candles |
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Window | Judah | Gelt | Shin | Courage |
White | Light | Kugel | Jelly Donut | Oil |
Maccabees | Friends | FREE | Jerusalem | Traditions |
Blue | Rededication | Candles | Happy Hanukkah | Sufganiyot |
Family | Applesauce | Chag Sameach | Blessings | Dreidel |
Eight nights is a lot of evenings to fill after the candles are lit. Hanukkah bingo is a family favorite because it mixes the fun parts of the holiday (latkes, gelt, the dreidel) with the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil. It’s simple enough for preschoolers with a parent’s help and still fun for grandparents. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and the eighth night is Friday, December 11.
How do you play Hanukkah bingo?
The rules are classic bingo, just with holiday words.
- Print one card per player using the generator at the top of this page.
- Cut the calling list at the bottom of this page into slips and drop them into a bowl or gift bag.
- After candle lighting, choose a caller. Each night, a different family member can take a turn.
- Draw one slip at a time and read it aloud.
- Players mark matching squares with chocolate gelt, blue chips or a blue marker.
- The first to complete a row, column or diagonal says “Bingo!” The center square is free.
How many Hanukkah bingo cards do I need?
If you’re playing every night, print one card per person per night. A family of six playing all eight nights needs 48 cards; the generator makes each one different, so print them all at once and save the stack. For a synagogue or community party, print one card per guest plus a few extras.
Hanukkah bingo variations
- Dreidel bingo. Before each call, spin the dreidel. Gimel lets the spinner mark any one square on their card; Hey means the caller draws an extra word; Nun and Shin mean nothing happens. Keep it light.
- Eight-night challenge. Play one round each night and keep a scoreboard. The family member with the most wins by the eighth night gets a special gift.
- Story bingo. Read a children’s book about Hanukkah aloud. Players mark words as they hear them in the story.
- Blackout finale. On the last night, play a blackout game for the biggest prize.
Tips for families and teachers
- Explain the words. When you call Shamash, Maccabees or Rededication, take a few seconds to explain what it means. Kids pick up the history without a lecture.
- Keep gelt for the end. If you use chocolate coins as markers, ask kids not to eat them until the game is over. Good luck.
- Mixed-holiday homes. If your family celebrates more than one holiday, alternate between these cards and our Christmas bingo cards.
- Play over video. Grandparents far away can join over a video call. See our tips for virtual bingo on Zoom.
Hanukkah bingo prize ideas
Small Hanukkah prizes fit the eight-night tradition: mesh bags of gelt, a new dreidel, blue and silver stickers, Hanukkah socks, small puzzles, a candle set, books about the holiday or a coupon for an extra latke. For adults, a jar of homemade applesauce or a bakery box of sufganiyot. More ideas are in our bingo prize ideas guide.
Make your own Hanukkah cards
Want to include family names or a favorite recipe? The custom bingo card generator lets you type in your own words. For running a bigger community game, see how to host a bingo night.
All 45 words on our hanukkah bingo cards
Every card is built from this list, so you can use it as a calling sheet too.
- Menorah
- Hanukkiah
- Shamash
- Candles
- Eight Nights
- Festival of Lights
- Dreidel
- Nun
- Gimel
- Hey
- Shin
- Gelt
- Latkes
- Applesauce
- Sour Cream
- Sufganiyot
- Jelly Donut
- Oil
- Miracle
- Maccabees
- Judah
- Temple
- Jerusalem
- Star of David
- Blue
- White
- Silver
- Blessings
- Kislev
- Brisket
- Kugel
- Family
- Friends
- Songs
- Gifts
- Wrapping Paper
- Window
- Matches
- Light
- Happy Hanukkah
- Chag Sameach
- Rededication
- Courage
- Traditions
- Grandparents
Frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The first candle is lit on the evening of December 4.
Can you play Hanukkah bingo and dreidel together?
Yes. Some families let the dreidel decide bonus moves: land on Gimel and you mark any square you like, land on Nun and nothing happens.
Is Hanukkah bingo good for Hebrew school?
Yes. The list mixes holiday vocabulary with history words like Maccabees, Temple and Rededication, which makes it a fun review game for religious school classes.
Sources
Keep reading
Printable Bingo Cards
Free printable bingo cards for every occasion — baby showers, holidays, classrooms and more.
Bingo Card Generator
Make and print custom 75-ball or word bingo cards for free.
How to Host a Bingo Night: A Step-by-Step Guide for Home, Church or Club
Plan and run a bingo night that flows: check the rules in your state, print cards, pick patterns, choose prizes and call games. Includes a supply checklist.
Free Printable Christmas Bingo Cards (Unique Cards + Calling List)
Free printable Christmas bingo cards with 54 holiday words. Print unique cards for family, classroom or office parties, with a calling list included.