Secret Santa 2026 is open, with a whole new look

It's that time of year again. People Like Us Secret Santa 2026 is open, and you can sign up any time until 9 November.

If you're new to it, the idea is lovely and simple. We pair you with one member somewhere in the world, and you post them a handwritten card. Meanwhile someone else, who you won't know, is doing the same for you.

Last year 464 of you joined in, from 41 countries. The record is 501 Santas, set in 2024. We'd love this to be the year we beat it.

A whole new Santa site

Secret Santa has been running since 2020, and this year we've rebuilt it from top to bottom. It's warmer, easier to use on your phone, and there's a lot more to look at while you wait for the postie.

Watch the world fill up

The new live page shows a map that lights up as Santas sign up, with a dot for each one (at town level, never a street). Alongside it you'll see which countries are taking part and how we're tracking against last year.

Once cards go in the post, the page starts counting the kilometres they travel. Over six seasons our cards have covered 15.3 million km, which is nearly twenty trips to the Moon and back.

Your own Santa page

Your Secret Santa page has had a makeover too. It's split into Sending and Receiving. On one side is the card you're writing, with a button to copy the address straight onto an envelope. On the other is the card coming your way. Messages to your recipient stay anonymous, just as before.

Every past season, in one place

This is the one we're most excited about. If you've been a Santa before, you'll now see a list of your past years. Pick one and you'll find who you wrote to, who wrote to you, and the messages you swapped.

If you'd like to say hello again, you can send them a message in Messages. Plenty of lovely friendships have started with a Christmas card, and this makes it easy to pick one back up.

Reveal Day is back

On 28 December we reveal every Santa. When your card arrives, mark it as arrived and take a guess at who sent it. On Reveal Day you'll find out if you were right.

A badge for your profile

While Secret Santa is on, members who've taken part get a Santa badge on their profile, showing how many seasons they've played. Our 55 Founding Santas, who haven't missed a single year since 2020, get a gold one.

Still just a card

There's no gift and no budget. A handwritten card and a stamp is the whole thing.

The dates

• Now to 9 November: sign up

• Evening of 9 November: we draw the pairs and email you the name and address of the person you're writing to

• By 23 November: your card goes in the post

• 28 December: Reveal Day

Secret Santa is open to all Premium members. Sign up at peoplelikeus.world/santa, and if you're not Premium yet, you can join here.

Here's to our biggest Secret Santa yet. 🏡