Norad Santa tracker – live: Follow Father Christmas and his reindeer around the globe

Father Christmas is getting ready to soar around the globe to deliver presents to children around the world.

Every year Norad – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – tracks Santa’s journey as he travels the globe in his sleigh.

The tradition began in 1955, when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.

Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.

As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.

Every year since, the agency – which ordinarily defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.

Stick with us as we follow his route around the world.

Key PointsHow do Norad track Santa?

11:22 , Lydia Patrick

Volunteers track Santa’s location through the use of satellite systems, high-powered radars and jet fighters – and then relay this information to the thousands of people who call and email each year.

“We use radar systems scattered across the world, along with satellites providing infrared imagery, and then we have Santa Cams scattered throughout the world,” Maj Todd Walter, a mission crew commander with the Canadian Air Defence, explained in a video posted to X.

“And then jet fighters that also go out and intercept Santa.”

Mapped- Where is Santa?

11:19 , Lydia Patrick

Santa is making great progress as he makes his way across Russia, the largest country in the world.

Making his way from West to East, he is now approaching Esso, a picturesque village in the Bystrinsky District.

Local time is currently 11.18pm.

Mapped- Santa in Russia (Norad)

Watch live – Santa delivers presents all over the world

11:13 , Lydia Patrick

Santa flies over Russia

11:11 , Lydia Patrick

Santa is soaring over Russia with his reindeer and has delivered over 60 million gifts.

He was last seen in Anadyr and is headed for Magadan.

Santa brings Christmas to Russia (Norad)

Norad tracking begins

11:08 , Lydia Patrick

Santa is off – and heading to the Space Station, say Norad.

Get ready to join us on his Christmas Eve mission.

Met Office track weather conditions on Santa’s journey

11:06 , Lydia Patrick

Starting in warmer climes, Mr Claus, is having to dodge strong rain and winds as he flies through New Zealand.

With temperatures at 19C, he might have to take off a few layers.

What’s on Santa’s playlist?

11:02 , Lydia Patrick

Santa has a selection of festive songs he blasts from his sleigh’s stereo to get him through the night.

Here are some of his favourites…

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Here Comes Santa Claus

Good King Wenceslas

Hangin Round the Mistletoe

How did Norad’s Santa tracking mission begin?

10:57 , Andy Gregory

In a search for answers, inquisitive children have been making calls to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) to establish the exact whereabouts of St Nicholas and his reindeer-led sleigh for close to 70 years.

The tradition began in 1955, when a child mistakenly rang a Colorado military command asking to speak to Father Christmas – after a local newspaper ran an advert by a department store containing a misprinted phone number.

Air Force Commander Harry Shoup, who was manning the phones that Christmas Eve, quickly realised the mistake and assured the child that he was in fact Santa Claus.

As more calls came in that night, Commander Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering the phone, birthing a tradition that passed over to Norad when it was formed in 1958.

Every year since, the agency – which defends and monitors the skies over North America – has fielded children’s questions about the red-and-white-clad chimney intruder and his unrivalled delivery schedule.

Tracking Santa (Public Domain)

Good day Santa!

10:55 , Lydia Patrick

Flight radar 24 have seen Santa and his sleigh soar over New Zealand and Australia.

He’s making great progress and has faced no problems yet on his global gift-giving mission.

Santa spotted in South Pacific

10:52 , Lydia Patrick

Norad Santa’s tracker are currently facing technical difficulties, but a flight tracking service have already spotted his Sleigh flying over the South Pacific.

He’s making his list, he’s checking it twice…

10:33 , Lydia Patrick

Join us on Santa’ s global mission to deliver presents to every single child all over the world.

Right now, Father Christmas is getting ready for his global voyage, intelligence reports.

Follow as we track Santa’s sleigh across the world.

Santa is currently getting ready for his flight around the world (Norad)