It’s the holiday season again at the North Pole, but things have changed. Scott Calvin, approaching his late 60s, is facing a crisis: Santa magic is fading across the world. Children everywhere are losing belief, and the traditional signs of Christmas — snow, decorations, even holiday joy — are becoming increasingly rare. Bernard the Elf alerts Scott that the magic doesn’t just come from traditions; it lives in people’s hearts. If belief dies, so does Christmas. This new threat forces Scott to act not just as a leader, but as a guardian of something much deeper than gifts or sleigh rides.
Scott realizes he must officially pass the mantle of Santa to someone worthy. He opens applications, both magical and mortal. Among the hopefuls are his daughter Sandra, who wants a more balanced life but feels drawn to the magic; a tech visionary who tries to automate Christmas with gadgets and algorithms; and an old rival from Santa folklore who claims the fading magic is due to Scott’s own reluctance to adapt. Scott, Carol, and Bernard must judge these candidates — seeing who can carry on the spirit of Santa without losing what makes it sacred.
While Scott searches outside, trouble brews at the North Pole. Some elves believe modernization is corrupting the Claus legacy; others don’t trust the humans applying for the role of successor. The tech visionary, meanwhile, starts implementing systems that can mass‑deliver presents but at the cost of losing the personal touch — names, individual letters, even understanding children’s wishes. When elves vanish mysteriously (as has happened before), Scott and Sandra realize the threat is internal and magical — something or someone is draining the magic from within.
Scott learns that the fading belief is tied not just to external cynicism, but to unresolved hurts: estranged families, children who no longer believe because they’ve been hurt, adults overwhelmed by hardship. He and Sandra embark on a journey through towns around the world, visiting families who’ve lost their Christmas spirit. Sandra reconnects with a childhood friend whose belief was shattered, helping them find hope again. Along the way, Scott confronts his own self‑doubt: is he still the Santa people need, or just a relic of a joyful past?
In a grand finale at the North Pole on Christmas Eve, the true successor is revealed — not someone perfect or technologically advanced, but someone who understands love, sacrifice, and kindness. The tech visionary, seeing the error of their ways, helps restore the magic systems to amplify genuine belief, not replace it. Magic returns as families around the world open their hearts, believing once more. Scott officially steps down, handing the suit to the new Santa, watched by elves, children, and adults. But Scott and Carol know: even in retirement, the spirit never leaves. The season closes with him shaking a snow globe, its glow rekindled — the world ready for a new era of Christmas wonder.