The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is set to continue its long-standing tradition of tracking Santa Claus on December 24, marking the 70th anniversary of the beloved program. The NORAD Tracks Santa tradition began in 1955, when a misprinted Sears advertisement directed children to call Santa directly. Instead, the number connected to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center. Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, embraced the calls, enlisting his staff to “track” Santa’s journey via radar. The initiative captured public imagination, and NORAD, established in 1958, inherited the tradition.
Today, NORAD maintains its core mission of monitoring and defending North American airspace 24/7, 365 days a year. On Christmas Eve, it takes on an additional mission: following Santa as he delivers gifts around the globe. The NORAD Tracks Santa website (https://www.noradsanta.org) launched December 1, 2026, featuring Santa’s North Pole Village with a holiday countdown, games, a movie theater, seasonal music, an online store, and more. The site is available in nine languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and Korean.
The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, allowing users to follow the countdown and track Santa on mobile devices. NORAD Tracks Santa is also active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and other digital platforms, as well as through contributor platforms including Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and OnStar. Additional information about program contributors is available on the NORAD Tracks Santa website.
On December 24, children and families can call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) between 4 a.m. and midnight MST to speak with live operators tracking Santa’s location. A new web-based calling feature on NORADSanta.org allows children to connect directly with the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center. Virtual translation services are available in over 200 languages. While live operators will conclude service at midnight MST, Santa’s journey can still be followed through 3 a.m. on December 25 via the website or the Interactive Voice Response system. NORAD continues to uphold a cherished holiday tradition that blends festive fun with a unique connection to aerospace defense history, bringing joy to families worldwide. To track Santa, visit www.noradsanta.org.
