Elmo, Big Bird, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang aren’t going anywhere—thanks to a new global streaming deal that keeps the legacy alive and more accessible than ever.
After Warner Bros. Discovery declined to renew its longstanding deal to air new episodes on Max, Sesame Street has officially landed at Netflix. Starting with Season 56, the beloved children’s series will debut exclusively on the streamer worldwide, while also airing day-and-date on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms in the U.S.—preserving over 50 years of public television access.
The announcement comes as a major win for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, which had been seeking a new partner to continue its mission of educating and inspiring children.
“The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serves as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder,” said Sesame Workshop in a statement.
And it’s not just business as usual. The show’s 56th season will introduce a fresh, reimagined format, shifting from its long-standing magazine style to a single, character-driven 11-minute narrative arc per episode. New animated segments titled “Tales From 123” will also bring fans inside the “most famous apartment building in the world,” offering a whimsical peek into where Elmo, Cookie Monster, and friends live.
Netflix’s deal includes:
- Exclusive global premiere rights to new episodes beginning later this year
- 90 hours of past episodes available to stream
- The option to develop video games based on Sesame Street and Mecha Builders
Fan-favorite segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck will return, alongside new additions like Cookie’s very own Cookie Cart and a magical journey through Abby’s Fairy Garden.
Behind the scenes, Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings return as executive producers. Halcyon Person—best known for her work on Karma’s World and Dee & Friends in Oz—joins as head writer, continuing the show’s tradition of top-tier creative leadership.
This move marks a major strategic shift. While Max chose to pivot away from preschool programming, Netflix is doubling down. Children’s content makes up 15% of Netflix’s total viewing hours, with hits like Gabby’s Dollhouse, Ms. Rachel, and CoComelon Lane leading the charge.
For families who’ve relied on Sesame Street as an early education cornerstone, the news is especially meaningful. Not only will the series reach even more children across the globe, but the new structure ensures that free, same-day access remains intact for U.S. viewers.
“To be able to combine the global reach of Netflix with the trusted accessibility of PBS is a rare and powerful opportunity,” said Sesame Workshop CEO Sherri Westin.
Season 56 is set to launch in three “batches” starting late 2025, with an exact release date still to be announced.
In the meantime, Cookie Monster’s already made himself at home—Netflix’s announcement video shows him gobbling up the big red “N.” Classic.