Track Santa Claus on Christmas, here’s how NORAD follows the jolly old man as he brings gifts and cheer around the world

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) is following Santa Claus’s worldwide journey on Christmas, continuing a long-standing holiday tradition that has become a favourite for families across the globe.

According to Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, the annual Santa tracking operation highlights the human side of NORAD’s mission, blending festive cheer with the command’s responsibility to protect North American airspace around the clock.

Date and time of Santa tracking

Live tracking will begin in the early hours of December 24, when NORAD activates its Santa monitoring systems as Santa departs from the North Pole. The public can follow his progress through war.gov, where real-time updates will go live at 4 am MST, even though the website has been accessible in advance.

Operations will be run from NORAD’s headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where more than 1,000 US and Canadian service members, civilian staff, and community volunteers will be on hand throughout Christmas Eve to handle an overwhelming number of calls from children worldwide.

Young callers can dial 877-446-6723 to connect with a Santa Tracker volunteer, who will provide updates on Santa’s current location. The hotline will remain open until midnight.

Parnell also used the occasion to recognise American troops serving overseas during the holidays, commending their dedication and sacrifices while families at home mark Christmas celebrations.

How it started

The tradition began unexpectedly in 1955, when a misprinted department store advertisement led a child’s call to the Continental Air Defence Command, NORAD’s predecessor. The officer who answered, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, chose to play along rather than disappoint the child, sparking a Christmas Eve custom that has endured for nearly 70 years.

As Santa takes to the skies, NORAD will rely on the same radar and satellite technology used to monitor potential missile threats, ensuring continuous airspace security while spreading seasonal joy.