London's Santa School Prepares Father Christmas Performers for the 2026 Season
Dozens of Father Christmas performers attended the annual Santa School in south London on 12 November. The training, run by the Ministry of Fun for the 28th year, covers how to talk with children.
Dozens of Father Christmas performers gathered in south London, in the United Kingdom, on Thursday 12 November for Santa School, a training day meant to make their meetings with children as magical as possible ahead of the festive season. The event is organised by the Ministry of Fun and is now in its 28th year. It prepares performers for appearances in shopping centres, department stores and festive attractions across the UK and beyond.
Many attendees wore their familiar red suits. They practised saying "Merry Christmas" in sign language, studied the latest toy trends and learned how to answer unexpected questions from young visitors. The lessons also address more sensitive situations, such as children who wish for separated parents to reunite or for sick relatives to recover. In such cases, kindness and careful listening matter more than promises.
Annual State of Santa report
The training also featured the Ministry of Fun's annual State of Santa report, which looks at changing Christmas traditions. According to the organisation's research, bookings for Mrs Claus have risen by 32%, while 60% of children still send physical letters to Father Christmas.
Mince pies remain the favourite Christmas Eve offering, appearing on 77% of plates, although kombucha has made its first appearance, on 2% of tables. The report also indicates that a typical visit to Santa lasts only three minutes and 45 seconds, leaving performers little time to create a memorable experience.
For veteran Santas, the challenge is not just knowing the latest toys, but making every child feel heard and preserving the magic of Christmas.
