How to call Santa in 2026: every way, and the one where he talks back

Updated October 27, 2026 · Written by the CallSanta team. We make one of the options mentioned here and say so where it matters.

Every way to call Santa, side by side

1. Free Santa hotlines

A Santa hotline is a free phone number that plays a recorded greeting from Santa and usually lets your child leave a message with their wish list. The best known is Santa's Hotline from FreeConferenceCall.com at +1 (605) 313-4000 (Spanish: +1 (605) 313-4001). It's a lovely free moment for toddlers. It can't answer a question or say your child's name, and numbers shared on social media change often, so call any number yourself before you hand it over. See our checked list of Santa hotline numbers.

2. Smart speakers

Voice assistants have offered Santa experiences in past seasons: saying "Alexa, call Santa" on an Echo has opened a short Santa game. These are free, fun and quick, but they're scripted, they run on the speaker rather than a phone, and what's available changes every year. Ask your speaker before you promise anything.

3. NORAD Tracks Santa on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, NORAD Tracks Santa staffs a phone line, 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723), where volunteers tell callers where Santa's sleigh is right now. Kids love it, and it pairs well with any other call. It isn't a call with Santa himself, and the line only runs on December 24.

4. Local "Santa's calling" programs

Many parks departments, libraries and community groups run free programs where a volunteer Santa phones local children on a few December evenings. You fill in a form with your child's name and wish, then wait by the phone during the window. They're warm and genuinely live. Spots are limited, sign-ups close early, and you have to be home at the scheduled time.

5. Call apps

Apps such as Portable North Pole and PackageFromSanta's call app make the phone ring with a personalized message from Santa at a time you pick. They're polished and often free to start. The message is prepared in advance, so if your child asks Santa something, he can't reply. Portable North Pole has also added a live chat inside its app. More in the best ways to get a call from Santa, compared.

6. A live phone call with Santa

A live Santa call is a real phone conversation: your child speaks, Santa listens and answers. With CallSanta it takes three steps:

1. Tell Santa about your child. Name, age, biggest wish, a recent good deed and anything else you'd like him to mention. About two minutes.
2. Get your North Pole number. It arrives by email and text within seconds, with a short code, and works every day until Christmas Eve.
3. Hand your child the phone. They dial, Santa picks up, greets them by name and has a real conversation about their wish, their good deed and whatever they ask him.

Santa's voice is powered by advanced voice technology, so there's no actor, no booking and no queue. Calls can happen at bedtime, on a Saturday morning or on Christmas Eve. Here's what a Santa phone call sounds like, minute by minute.

Which way should you pick?

• Your child is two or three: a free hotline or smart speaker is plenty. Little ones love hearing "Ho ho ho".
• Your child wants Santa to answer them: a live call, or a local volunteer program if you can get a spot.
• Your child is seven or eight and asking questions: a live call that knows real details holds up best. See what to do when kids start doubting Santa.
• It's Christmas Eve: call NORAD to find the sleigh, then a Christmas Eve call with Santa before bed.

Make any Santa call more magical

• Call on speakerphone and film your child's face, not the phone.
• Pick a calm moment: after dinner or right before bed works better than the car.
• Give Santa one detail your child would never expect him to know. That's the moment they'll remember.
• Let each child have their own turn so nobody gets talked over.
• Afterwards, ask "What did Santa say?" and write it down. Kids retell it for years.

Questions parents ask