VGCollect 2026 Secret Santa!

[dhaabi]

It's that time of the year with holiday spirit soon to be in the air! Presenting a tradition many here have come to love, I introduce VGCollect's 2026 Secret Santa gift-exchange, now fourteen years in the running! I'd like for the event to go as planned without any issues or hurdles, so I politely ask that this introduction post be read in full. Additionally, we as a community have established that all who are interested to have been members of the forum community for at least three months prior to this announcement topic alongside some sort of site activity. Generally, all are welcome, and we hope that longtime participants return and new ones take part.

Like with previous years' events, I've decided to streamline steps so that most everything I need as the organizer is supplied all at once. With that said, I've created a Google Form for those interested in participating to fill out. For those concerned, the form does not collect e-mail addresses, and completing the form does not require a Google account. Be aware that to formally join the event, the attached form below is needing to be completed. With that said, for the sake of the establishing further interest and community discussion, please be sure to also post in the forum topic if you're planning to take part.

VGCollect 2026 Secret Santa Sign-up
https://forms.gle/YqF4rLwsMuRyzKfg6

Feel free to publicly discuss what you think should be the expected budget, any updates you'd like to share with everyone participating, or anything else related to Secret Santa. As is typical, I think everyone would appreciate any and all discussion to help raise excitement and to maintain engagement. Toward the end of the sign-up period, I will publicly post what the agreed upon budget that has been selected by most participants is. If the budget becomes more than you originally were planning to spend, or if there is any reason you need to withdraw from the event whatsoever, please let me know via PM so that you are formally withdrawn. At the latest, please let me know by the end of Wednesday, October 7, as wish list information will be sent to each Santa the following day.

I would like for there to be enough time for anyone interested to see this topic, so the sign-up period will run for approximately three weeks until the morning of Thursday, October 8. Following the sign-up period, I will assign each participating Santa their giftee by forwarding wish lists and mailing addresses, and the actual fun will begin!

Something I will mention is the agreed upon budget. As one should assume, this budget tends to be more of a guideline. Evident from the past, many participants personally decide to exceed the budget, although no one should feel as if they themselves or their Santa are required. This hasn't been any major issue in the past, but it's worth addressing, nonetheless. On that note, many participants in the past have gone above and beyond in curating their gifts and mailing them with care, so continuing with that attitude would be fantastic to see.

In regards to how participants will be paired, the state of world trade (specifically relating to the United States) has impacted this event. As a result, participants living in the United States will only be paired with other US citizens. Here is a previous post where I've discussed the matter at some length.

Regarding the state of global trade (specifically relating to the United States)—we can discuss that publicly in time if and when any member outside of the United States is wanting to participate in this year's event.

2026 Santas
1. dhaabi
2. telly
3. NickAwesome

As it's needed, I will publish follow-up posts while also updating this initial topic post below:

October 13 Update
The suggested budget should be around $60 USD.

As stated above, this is now the fourteenth year the VGCollect community has celebrated this Secret Santa event! Below are past topic discussions for each previous year:
Secret Santa 2013
Secret Santa 2014
Secret Santa 2015
Secret Santa 2016
Secret Santa 2017
Secret Santa 2018
Secret Santa 2019
Secret Santa 2020
Secret Santa 2021
Secret Santa 2022
Secret Santa 2023
Secret Santa 2024
Secret Santa 2025

[telly]

Me! 

[Cartagia]

If we get enough people for a real shuffle I'm down.  Kashell and I see each other on the reg as it is.

[dhaabi]

If we get enough people for a real shuffle I'm down.  Kashell and I see each other on the reg as it is.

Good to know! 2024 was the last year a new participant joined (me), so it'd be nice if someone else who hasn't participated before felt compelled to join.

[kashell]

I agree with Cartagia - if more people sign up then I'll be on board. (I've given to Cartagia, and I've been the giftee of both telly and dhaabi.)

I took a look at the participant list from last year and my goodness: there over 20 of us.

[NickAwesome]

Just signed up! Hopefully we get a few more peeps!

[dhaabi]

Just signed up! Hopefully we get a few more peeps!

And we're three confirmed!

[telly]

Maybe we don't even call it secret santa anymore and just call it a gift exchange since we pretty much know where everyone is shipping from at this point  haha

[dhaabi]

Maybe we don't even call it secret santa anymore and just call it a gift exchange since we pretty much know where everyone is shipping from at this point  haha

Even if that's true, you never know who's to be sending your gifts until they actually arrive. Although, this year could be different.

There's one week left until the sign-up period concludes on Thursday, October 8. The sign-up period could always be extended a few days, but it may not be worth the effort.

[dhaabi]

The sign-up period for joining this year's event ends tomorrow. Here is the link to the sign-up form.
https://forms.gle/YqF4rLwsMuRyzKfg6

[dhaabi]

The sign-up period has concluded. There are three participants.

I had a feeling something like this may have occurred when readying this year's event. telly and NickAwesome—what do you want to do?

[telly]

Personally I'm fine with proceeding. It's not really a "Secret" Santa but like I said earlier I think the gift giving is what really matters. I like shopping for others, picking out something nice and putting it in the mail and seeing what others think of it  That's more important to me than numbers of participants.

If it was just me and one other person I'd still be game!

[NickAwesome]

I agree with Telly! Whether it’s 3 or 30- I always enjoy this tradition. It’s fun shopping for other collectors. Can’t break the streak now!

[dhaabi]

PMs have been sent out to this year's participants with giftee information! If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask me directly. Do feel free to post any updates you're wanting to share in the public topic as well.

If for some reason wish lists have not been finalized, please notify me so that I may pass that information along. But do try to have lists finalized as soon as possible.

Since it's not been mentioned yet, this year's suggested budget was again agreed to be $60 USD. I've added this information to the topic post in the updates section.

I've actually sent two messages to telly since I'm needing clarification on something, which I'm also mentioning here in the event one of the two messages is overlooked.

As more time passes, we can discuss what date we should all aim to have gifts arrive at their final destination.

[telly]

Yep got your message! I'll work on it tonight when I get home from work.