Norad Santa tracker live: Follow Santa Claus and his reindeer as they deliver gifts around the globe
Norad is tracking St Nick’s speedy trip around the globe as he delivers presents worldwide
Santa Claus and his reindeer have set off for their biggest night of the year, with billions of stops to make around the world in less than 24 hours.
After weeks of preparation at the workshop, Father Christmas has departed west from the North Pole, and will visit the South Pacific before passing through Asia, Africa, Europe, and crossing the Atlantic to the Americas.
Every Christmas Eve, Norad – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – provides real-time tracking of Santa’s sleigh as it navigates the skies.
It is a tradition dating back to 1955, after a misprint in a department store advert led a young child to call a Colorado military command center asking to speak to Santa Claus, prompting a festive custom in which Norad answer children’s questions about Santa’s journey.
Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the organisation to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online – in nine languages – as St Nick swoops along the earth’s meridians.
Stay tuned for updates as we follow Santa’s magical route across the world.
NORAD Santa Tracker 2025 live: Father Christmas begins his annual journey around the world
Watch live as Santa Claus begins his annual journey around the world, delivering presents ahead of Christmas Day.
Father Christmas and his reindeer, Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, will begin their journey in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland.
As Saint Nicholas he makes his way through his naughty or nice list, parents and children around the world can watch him make his impressive journey.
Watch live here:
Watch live: Santa Claus begins his annual journey around the world
‘He’s one of the best aviators we’ve ever seen'
Last year, we heard from top military personnel, who are in awe of Santa Claus’ aviation talents.
U.S. military personnel may have access to high-tech jets and drones, but they’ve still got respect for Santa’s sleigh.
“We know Santa has been doing this for over 2,000 years. He is one of the best aviators we have ever seen. ... In his 2,000 years plus, he has never had an accident,” 2nd Lt. Tyler Turnmire, with the 601 Air Operations Center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, told news station WSAW.
Russia up next!
Santa Claus is now passing over Russia.
It is no easy feat delivering presents to the 150 million people leaving in the world’s largest country, which covers 17 million square kilometres.
He is currently passing over Birobidzhan, a town of 75,000 people near the China-Russia border.
Santa in the zone as he passes half a billion presents delivered
Santa looks to be in the zone. He’s early into a long 24-hour shift, but has already delivered more than half a billion presents worldwide.
Here are some images of Santa and his reindeer - led, of course, by Rudolf - as they continue their journey through the pacific.
Santa delivers presents for Antarctica
Santa Claus has passed over Antarctica, where he delivered presents for the handful of researchers temporarily living in the continent.
Antarctica has no permanent residents - just scientists carrying out research projects.
With many away from home and family during the Christmas period, a visit from Father Christmas will be very welcome!
He is now heading for the Solomon Islands - and it likely won’t be long before he heads into Australia.
How Norad's Santa tracker works
Norad says it relies on radar technology and satellites to keep track of Santa’s movements.
The aerospace agency says the system is the same as the ones it uses to protect skies over North America.
The system, according to Norad, includes 47 different checkpoints across northern Canada and Alaska.
“Norad makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole every holiday season,” the agency notes on its website.
“The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing air warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America,” it says.
Santa spotted over New Zealand
Santa’s sleigh has now been spotted over New Zealand - the largest country he has visited so far.
The number of presents he has delivered is rapidly growing as he passes through the country with a population of more than 5 million people.
He will soon pass over Christchurch, New Zealand’s second biggest city.
Present deliveries have now passed the 300,000,000 mark.
Santa sets off from the North Pole
Santa Claus has now set off from the North Pole, bringing an end to months of diligent preparation with his elves - and fitness training for the reindeer.
St Nick is currently passing through the South Pacific, and has already delivered all his presents to islands in Oceania such as Tonga and Samoa.
Incredibly, he has already delivered 270,000,000 presents to children around the world.
Where’s Santa? The true story behind NORAD’S 70-year tracking tradition
The magic of Christmas Eve often brings a unique question for children and adults alike: Where is Santa?
For 70 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has provided the answer, transforming its Cold War-era mission of monitoring skies for threats into a beloved tradition of tracking St Nick's global journey.
Millions now check up on the jolly figure said to deliver presents around the world.
This Christmas Eve, over 1,000 dedicated volunteers will staff the 1-877-HI-NORAD hotline from 4am to midnight Mountain Standard Time, ready to field calls from eager Santa-seekers.
Here’s the full story behind the Norad Santa-tracking tradition:
Where’s Santa? The true story behind NORAD’S 70-year tracking tradition
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