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

Santa Claus is coming to town – join us on his journey around the world

Santa Claus and his reindeer travel around world on Norad tracker

Father Christmas is currently flying 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 planet 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 Points

• Norad tracking begins
• How do Norad track Santa?

[24 December 2023 19:15 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Santa delivers presents to Kyiv in Ukraine

Santa is now delivering presents to Kyiv in Ukraine, where Christmas will be celebrated for the first time on 25 December, after the country’s president Volodymr Zelensky chose to break from the tradition of following the Julian calendar.

(Reuters)

[24 December 2023 18:44 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

All the chimneys Santa has squeezed through so far...

The night is still young but Santa has been working hard this Christmas Eve. Here are all the places he has delivered presents to:

(Norad Santa )

[24 December 2023 18:14 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

A balmy 13C in Bangladesh for Father Christmas

[24 December 2023 18:08 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Santa flies over the Arabian Peninsula

[24 December 2023 17:26 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Santa heading to Russia

The man of the moment was last seen in Karsakpay, Kazakhstan and will be touching down in Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2 minutes.

Over 2.1 million presents have so far been delivered... and counting!

[24 December 2023 16:57 · Lydia Patrick]

Santa soars towards Sri lanka

Santa and his reindeer crew are about to land in Colombo.

The sleigh is heading towards the vibrant Sri Lankan capital which lies on the country’s west coast.

Sri Lanka US Port Project (Provided)

[24 December 2023 16:46 · Lydia Patrick]

Father Christmas arrives in Nepal

Santa’s next stop on his worldwide tour is Nepal.

He made a brief stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh before heading to Kolkata, India.

Now he is about to land in Kathmandu, where Santa is sure to fly over some incredible temples.

A boy sways on a swing traditionally called the 'Dashain Ping' on the occasion of the Nepali Hindu festival 'Dashain' (AFP via Getty Images)

[24 December 2023 16:21 · Lydia Patrick]

Santa touches down in Mongolia

Santa has been all over South East Asian and his next stop is Mongolia.

He is set to land in the capital Ulaanbaatar- the coldest capital city in the world.

Interesting fact- there are almost as many horses as people in Mongolia, according to a Czech humanitarian aid charity. Jingle all the neigh!

YE Top Photos Climate Change 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

[24 December 2023 16:11 · Lydia Patrick]

Watch - Inside Santa tracking HQ

[24 December 2023 16:06 · Lydia Patrick]

Santa on way to Vietnam

After millions of succesful deliveries around Asia, Santa has zipped over to Hanoi.

Hanoi is a cultural mixing pot of Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences.

Santa makes speedy stop in Vietnamese capital (Getty Images)