It’s a sunny day on Sesame Street as Elmo and his pals prepare for a move to Netflix.
The streaming giant has inked a deal with Sesame Workshop to pick up the worldwide streaming rights to the beloved children’s show, beginning with season 56, slated to debut later this year. Episodes from the series’ decades-long library will also be available on the platform.
The news comes months after Warner Bros. Discovery opted not to renew its deal to stream new episodes of the program on HBO Max (formerly Max) as part of a strategy shift for the streamer to focus more on adult and family programming. The Sesame Street library will, however, remain available on HBO Max through 2027.
N IS FOR NETFLIX!
Sesame Street is joining the Netflix family! Brand new episodes — as well as past seasons — will premiere later this year. pic.twitter.com/SMEqHm29a2
— Netflix (@netflix) May 19, 2025
As per the new Netflix deal, episodes of Sesame Street will also be available day and date on PBS stations and across PBS Kids digital platforms. Sesame Street has been available on PBS for more than 50 years, but this is a notable change from the HBO deal, under which episodes only aired on PBS months after their HBO Max premiere.
“This unique public-private partnership will enable Sesame Workshop to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix’s global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the U.S. continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love,” Sesame Workshop CEO Sherri Westin said in a statement.
Courtesy of HBO
Abby Cadabby, Elmo, Julia, Big Bird, and Alan Muraoka on ‘Sesame Street’
“I strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important aspects of our service to the American people, and Sesame Street has been an integral part of that critical work for more than half a century,” added Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. “We’re proud to continue our partnership in the pursuit of having a profound impact on the lives of children for years to come.”
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In addition to finding a new home, Sesame Street is also undergoing some stylistic changes. Season 56 will reimagine the show, featuring “fresh format changes” and the return of such beloved segments as “Elmo’s World” and “Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck.” Additionally, episodes will now center around one 11-minute story and include the addition of the animated segment, “Tales from 123,” which takes viewers inside the iconic Sesame Street apartment building, so they can get a glimpse at the wacky and whimsical place that Elmo, Cookie Monster, and friends call home.
The upcoming season of Sesame Street will be released in three “batches,” Netflix says. Watch Cookie Monster celebrate the news above.
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