USPS Operation Santa 2026: How to Write a Letter & Participate

2026 HOLIDAY GUIDE · CHECKED SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

Get the paper, envelopes and wish lists ready! USPS Operation Santa 2026 is accepting letters beginning September 14. This holiday program connects people who write to Santa with generous helpers who may choose to fulfill their wishes.

Wondering how to sign up, whether your family can participate or where to mail a letter? Start here. If you would rather help make someone else’s Christmas brighter, there is a separate path for adopting letters, too.

USPS Operation Santa at a Glance

Operation Santa 2026 Dates to Save

Letter writing opens first. Adopter registration and letter selection happen later, so don’t confuse those dates with the deadline for mailing your wish list.

Dates follow the main 2026 program calendar and current key-date FAQs. Some secondary USPS FAQ sections still display older dates. Check the main calendar for updates; the shipping recommendation is not a Christmas-delivery guarantee.

Who Can Write a Letter to USPS Operation Santa?

The USPS FAQ invites people in the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It sets no age limit for letter writers; a parent, guardian, teacher or caregiver may help someone write. The FAQ does not include overseas participants or deployed military overseas.

Families hoping for holiday help can participate, but this is not an income-screened assistance application. USPS says letters are not evaluated according to need. There is no promised gift amount or guaranteed selection.

Check USPS eligibility and letter-selection FAQs for the official participation details.

Our suggestion: If your household needs dependable holiday assistance, keep exploring other local resources while you participate. Don’t build your Christmas budget around an unconfirmed gift.

How to Send Your Operation Santa Letter

1. Write a readable wish list. Prioritize realistic requests. Include helpful details: book titles, clothing sizes or preferred colors.
2. Add your full name and return address to the letter and envelope, including any apartment number.
3. Address the envelope using Santa’s address below.
4. Add correct postage at the upper right. Heavier envelopes may need extra stamps.
5. Mail through USPS, postmarked by December 5, 2026.

What Is the USPS Operation Santa Mailing Address?

Family letters: Mail together in one envelope. Classrooms and organizations: Mail each separately, using the child’s holiday address.

Keep the pages flat: skip glued-on beads, bulky decorations and glitter. Letter writers do not need an Operation Santa account.

This button opens the official writing guide, not an online gift application.

Not Sure What to Write? Start With This Example

Here is a Freebie Mom starter you can personalize. It is not an official form or a way to guarantee adoption.

Dear Santa,

My name is [first and last name]. This year, I’ve enjoyed [a favorite activity or something about your year].

My first wish is [specific item]. Another gift I would enjoy is [second choice]. My size or other helpful details are [details].

Thank you for reading my letter!

[Full name]
[Street address and apartment number]
[City, state and ZIP Code]

A parent’s finishing touch: Read the address aloud before sealing the envelope. Let children choose wishes that feel personal to them, and explain that sending a letter is a hopeful holiday activity—not an order confirmation.

Want to Help? How to Adopt an Operation Santa Letter

If your holiday budget has room for another person’s wish, consider becoming an adopter. You can participate on your own or team up with others to help a family.

1. Create and verify an account when adopter registration opens November 2.
2. Browse letters beginning November 16. Choose a wish you can realistically fulfill; location filters can help you find letters nearby.
3. Plan your gift and delivery together. Set a spending limit that includes postage before committing.

There is no requirement to take on an expensive wish. If your plans change after adopting, cancel promptly in your account so another helper can select that letter.

Adoption starts November 16—not when letter mailing opens in September.

Two ways to shop and ship

Use Santa’s Gift Shoppe: After adopting, choose eligible gifts through the official catalog and check out for delivery without entering the recipient’s address.

Shop yourself: Follow USPS packing rules, then take the package and your adoption QR code to a participating Post Office. Ask a retail associate to process the Operation Santa shipment and pay the postage.

Adopters cover the gifts and shipping. Plan to ship by December 12, preferably earlier. Use USPS instructions to keep the exchange anonymous.

Operation Santa Questions Families Often Ask

More answers: official USPS Operation Santa FAQs.

Ready for a little holiday hope? Pick a quiet moment, help your family put their wishes into words and use the checklist above before mailing. Or share the adopter information with someone who would enjoy giving back this Christmas.

Independent guide by Freebie Mom; not affiliated with USPS. Program details were checked September 14, 2026. USPS sets participation rules and may update dates.