NORAD Santa Tracker is live right now for Christmas Eve 2025, giving families across the United States real-time updates on Santa’s global gift-delivery adventure as he travels from the North Pole to millions of homes. Today, NORAD confirmed that Santa’s sleigh has already passed major parts of Asia and crossed vast distances, with the interactive map updated continuously so children and adults can watch the magical journey unfold. This year’s tracker celebrates a 70-year tradition of tracking Santa, blending nostalgia and cutting-edge technology to make Christmas Eve truly unforgettable.
In this article, we provide the latest factual updates, explain how the NORAD Santa Tracker works, and guide you through the best ways to follow Santa’s path from the North Pole to U.S. skies.
Table of Contents
What the NORAD Santa Tracker Is
The NORAD Santa Tracker is an annual holiday tradition run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a binational U.S.–Canada military organization. Every Christmas Eve, NORAD uses its radar, satellite, and aerospace tracking capabilities to provide live, interactive updates showing Santa Claus’s journey around the world.
Millions of families across the U.S. and globally rely on the tracker to see where Santa is at any moment, roughly estimate timing for his arrival in different regions, and enjoy the festive spectacle of his world tour. This tradition brings together real-time technology and holiday cheer in a way no other seasonal experience does.
NORAD’s Santa Tracking program begins each year on December 24 and continues through the early morning hours of December 25, giving children everywhere a way to follow Santa’s progress right up until he completes his gift deliveries.
Latest 2025 Santa Tracker Updates
As of today, NORAD’s live map shows Santa’s sleigh has already made incredible progress across vast portions of the globe:
- Tracking data places Santa crossing over parts of Asia and Southeast Asia, with sleigh sightings reported near major regions such as Indonesia and Japan earlier in the evening.
- The holiday dashboard continues to update, showing Santa weaving across time zones and heading steadily westward toward Europe and the Americas.
- The interactive map on the official tracker is refreshed frequently, with new visual indicators appearing each hour as Santa moves ever closer to U.S. airspace.
- According to current tracking figures, Santa has delivered well over one billion presents worldwide, reflecting the massive global celebration underway tonight.
- NORAD and other live platforms are keeping families informed about Santa’s progress through video streams, animated maps, and frequent digital posts.
These updates reflect the real-time status of Santa’s 2025 journey as tracked by NORAD’s mission center and shared via their online platforms.
A 70-Year Holiday Tradition
The NORAD Santa Tracker has been a beloved tradition for 70 years, beginning in 1955. That year, a misprinted phone number in a Colorado Springs newspaper listing intended for Santa inadvertently directed curious children to a U.S. defense command center.
Rather than disappointing them, the officer on duty offered to check radar for Santa’s flight and update kids on his progress. That spontaneous act of holiday kindness became a ritual that has continued every Christmas Eve since.
Today, NORAD honors that original spirit while using modern technology to bring Santa’s journey to life for families around the world.
How NORAD Tracks Santa in 2025
While the NORAD Santa Tracker uses playful imagery and animated graphics for holiday fun, the underlying technology mirrors real aerospace monitoring systems.
Here’s how the process works:
- Radar Detection: NORAD’s radar systems monitor the skies for aerial objects, and on Christmas Eve, watchers symbolically “detect” Santa’s departure from the North Pole.
- Satellite Imagery: Geosynchronous satellites provide heat recognition and imagery that feed into the visualization of Santa’s path.
- Aerospace Experts: Trained personnel in NORAD’s operations center coordinate the tracker, update Santa’s position, and manage the interactive map.
- Interactive Map: Users see Santa’s location in near real time as the sleigh travels across continents and oceans.
Although it is presented in a festive and magical way, the experience incorporates real-world tracking concepts to make each update feel immersive and engaging for families.
Current and Real–Time Map Position
At the moment:
- Santa has already been tracked flying above large regions of Asia, making stops near areas such as Japan, Indonesia, and China.
- Present tallies displayed on the map reflect billions of gifts delivered around the globe as Santa continues his westward route.
- NORAD’s live tracker remains the most updated source for location information, though other Santa trackers also show similar paths.
These live map details are refreshed constantly and can be accessed at any time by visiting NORAD’s Santa tracking page.
Best Ways to Follow Santa Tonight
Here are the top options for families who want to track Santa’s progress throughout the evening:
Official Interactive Map
The flagship experience is the live interactive map on the official NORAD Santa Tracker website. It updates Santa’s location continuously and provides visuals that show how far he has traveled.
Phone Hotline
Families can call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to speak with live volunteers. Operators provide Santa’s current position and answer questions from callers until midnight Mountain Standard Time.
Mobile Apps and Social Media
NORAD also updates Santa’s location via mobile apps and social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X. These updates help families stay connected even when away from the main tracker.
Voice Assistants
Voice platforms such as smart home devices often integrate Santa tracking skills. Just ask for Santa’s location, and you can hear updates hands-free.
Why U.S. Families Love the NORAD Santa Tracker
The NORAD Santa Tracker has become more than a tool — it’s a holiday ritual in many American households.
Parents and children use it to:
- Build Excitement: Watching Santa approach their time zone builds anticipation leading up to Christmas morning.
- Connect Generations: Many families remember tracking Santa when they were children, making it a shared experience year after year.
- Keep Traditions Alive: The thrill of seeing Santa’s sleigh on a map brings storytelling and celebration together in a uniquely modern way.
Even beyond children, many adults enjoy refreshing the tracker throughout the night to follow Santa’s progress from continent to continent.
Santa’s Route Tonight
Santa’s path on Christmas Eve follows a carefully orchestrated global route designed to visit as many homes as possible within the span of one night.
Typical routing includes:
- Crossing major regions in Asia and Europe
- Passing over parts of Africa and the Middle East
- Entering North American airspace late in the evening
Because Santa travels faster than conventional speeds and due to time zone differences, he will appear to reach some locations sooner than others. However, the tracker lets families see his progress nearly in real time.
NORAD does not claim to know Santa’s exact destination ahead of time, only his current location and trajectory as the sleigh moves across the globe.
Phone Support and Multilingual Access
This year’s tracker provides wide support for families everywhere:
- Live operators are available on the hotline in multiple languages until midnight MST.
- After phone support ends, the interactive voice response and website keep updating Santa’s location through early morning December 25.
- Online features are accessible in many languages, making the experience inclusive for diverse households in the U.S. and beyond.
Live support adds a personal touch, allowing children to call in and hear Santa’s status from real volunteers.
NORAD’s Operations Center on Christmas Eve
Each Christmas Eve, NORAD activates its Santa tracking operations center at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More than 1,000 U.S. and Canadian military and civilian volunteers team up to manage calls, update digital maps, and support the tracker experience.
These volunteers work hard to ensure that the Santa Tracker remains responsive, current, and engaging for families everywhere — continuing a tradition that has lasted decades.
Historical Highlights of the NORAD Santa Tracker
This year’s tracker celebrates major milestones from the past:
- 1955: The first accidental Santa tracking event began when a child dialed the wrong number and reached a military command center.
- 1960s: The tradition grew as NORAD formally took over Santa tracking.
- 2000s: Digital tracking and online maps expanded global access.
- 2025: The 70th anniversary of the NORAD Santa Tracker brings new engagement tools and yearly updates that families look forward to around the world.
Over the years, millions of people have participated in this tradition, making it one of the most enduring holiday customs in the United States.
Accessibility and Inclusive Features
NORAD’s Santa Tracker in 2025 supports wide audiences:
- Website and social media content in multiple languages
- Accessibility options for users with different needs
- Voice and screen-reader friendly interfaces
These features ensure that families can track Santa regardless of where they live or how they choose to engage with the content.
The Importance of the Tracker Tonight
This Christmas Eve, millions of families are using the NORAD Santa Tracker to:
- Check how far Santa is from their region
- Count gifts delivered around the world
- Share moments of wonder with loved ones
- Keep children excited and engaged while waiting for Christmas morning
The tracker’s live updates create a shared global experience, connecting households across continents through a common holiday tradition that spans generations.
What to Expect as Santa Approaches the U.S.
As Santa continues his trip westward:
- The interactive map will show his approach into North American time zones
- Gift delivery numbers will increase steadily
- Regions in the continental U.S. will begin seeing Santa on the map late tonight
Families in earlier time zones will likely see Santa’s proximity approaching first, followed by states in central and western regions as the night progresses.
This buildup makes the NORAD Santa Tracker especially captivating for U.S. viewers, combining anticipation with real-time engagement.
Keep following the NORAD Santa Tracker tonight — comment below where Santa is when he reaches your area and enjoy this magical holiday journey!