Picture: Sesame Workshop
Sesame Street is making a big return to Netflix. The streamer announced this morning that the long-running kids series from the Sesame Workshop will be landing on Netflix later with a brand new season in addition to past seasons.
The famous American kids’ series has had a whirlwind of a few years. In 2016, the series left its longtime home of PBS, where it’d been since the late 1960s, for HBO before being moved to HBO Max in 2020. HBO ultimately opted out of the deal in December 2024, although they will continue to license some of the library through 2027.
In a statement, the official Sesame Street social page announced that Netflix will be the global home to Sesame Street beginning late 2025, in addition to the show returning to PBS. The statement reads:
“We are excited to announce that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to Netflix worldwide along with library episodes, and new episodes will also release the same day on PBS Stations and PBSKIDS platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship.
The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”
Netflix was the streaming home to Sesame Street for most of the early 2010s with the streamer carrying many seasons of the show. That changed in September 2015 with all available shows and specials yanked, and they haven’t returned since.
According to Netflix, the new season will see a refresh in the show’s traditional format and will be released on Netflix in three batches with episodes changed to one 11-minute story per episode, “allowing for even more character-driven humor and heart.”
Netflix has exclusive worldwide premiere rights, with episodes available day-and-date on PBS stations in the U.S. and across PBS KIDS digital platforms.
They also add that season 56 of the show will “see the return of fan-favorite segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck. Expect new ways to play along as Cookie Monster opens his very own Cookie Cart on Sesame Street, and explore Abby’s Fairy Garden, a home to surprising and delightful magical creatures.”
In terms of what older episodes are coming, Netflix says 90 hours of previous episodes will be made available on Netflix globally. Exact details TBD.
Netflix also says it’s planning on making new games for kids based on the world of Sesame Street, too.
Sesame Workshop is behind the show with Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings serving as executive producers. Halcyon Person is taking over writing duties having previously worked with Netflix on Karma’s World and Dee & Friends in Oz.
In the announcement video shared on social media this morning, the Cookie Monster can be seen feeding on the Netflix logo, revealing the Sesame Street logo and Netflix with the message coming soon.
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
Are you looking forward to Sesame Street coming to Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
Correction: A previous version of this article referred to The Jim Henson Company when it should’ve said Sesame Workshop.
