The U.S. Postal Service opened its Operation Santa program on Sept. 14, 2026, and is accepting letters from children and families in the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Key deadlines and adoption dates are published on USPSOperationSanta.com.
Letters to Santa must be postmarked by Dec. 5 and sent to Santa Claus, 123 Elf Rd., North Pole, 88888 to be eligible for potential adoption.
Operation Santa is in its 114th year and is managed through USPSOperationSanta.com where guidelines, history, and participation details are posted.
# What started
# How to send a letter Follow the program guidelines posted at USPSOperationSanta.com. Mail letters to the official address: Santa Claus 123 Elf Rd. North Pole, 88888. To be eligible for adoption, letters must be postmarked by Dec. 5. The Postal Service explicitly states there is no guarantee any submitted letter will be adopted.
# How adoption works Registration to adopt letters opens Nov. 2. Individuals and groups can register. The letter adoption window opens Nov. 16. Registrants can choose to adopt single letters or family letters. Adopted letters are those volunteers agree to respond to and, if they choose, help fulfill requests in the mail.
# Important dates and actions
If you plan to participate, check USPSOperationSanta.com for the full program guidelines and any updates to dates or rules.
Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the Postal Service, said: "The holidays are a time to celebrate the joy of the season. But for some, the simple act of exchanging even small gifts is out of reach. For more than 100 years, USPS Operation Santa has given kindhearted people the opportunity to make dreams come true for thousands of children and their families through simple acts of kindness."
# Why it matters
# Where to get details All program rules, the history of Operation Santa, participation steps for writers and adopters, and the official calendar are posted at USPSOperationSanta.com. The Postal Service notes letters submitted to the program may not be adopted, so follow deadlines and guidelines closely.
# About the Postal Service Service is an independent federal establishment that serves more than 170 million addresses and funds operations through postage and services rather than tax dollars. The organization says it is pursuing a transformation plan focused on financial sustainability and service improvements.
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