Netflix Becomes the New Streaming Home for Sesame Street

It looks like Sesame Street is moving into a new neighborhood, the big red N of Netflix. Starting with its 56th season later this year, the beloved children’s show will premiere exclusively on Netflix for international audiences. That means Netflix is now the official global streaming home of Sesame Street, replacing its previous partner, Max (formerly HBO Max), after their five-year deal came to an end.

But don't worry, U.S. viewers who watch Sesame Street on PBS won't be left out. New episodes will still air on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms on the same day they drop on Netflix. This keeps the show’s long-standing connection with public broadcasting alive, which has been in place for over 50 years.

The new partnership between Sesame Workshop and Netflix also includes 90 hours of classic Sesame Street episodes. Plus, Netflix has been granted the rights to create video games based on both Sesame Street and Sesame Street Mecha Builders. That opens up a lot of possibilities for interactive learning and fun.

Season 56 will bring a fresh look and format to the show. Each episode will focus on a single 11-minute story, allowing more time to build character-driven moments filled with humor and heart. There’s also a new animated segment called Tales From 123, which dives into the fun, quirky world of the apartment building where Elmo, Cookie Monster, and their friends live.

Familiar segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck are coming back, along with some new surprises. One of the most exciting additions is Cookie Monster’s new “Cookie Cart,” and young viewers can also explore Abby’s magical garden, filled with playful creatures and enchantment.

Behind the scenes, Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings continue as executive producers, while Halcyon Person joins as the new head writer. Person has worked on other kid-favorite Netflix series like Karma’s World and Dee & Friends in Oz.

Netflix says children’s content makes up about 15% of total watch time on its platform. Alongside Sesame Street, Netflix’s kid-friendly lineup includes titles like Gabby’s Dollhouse, CoComelon Lane, Blippi, and Ms. Rachel. It also offers family-friendly movies like The Sea Beast and Leo, voiced by Adam Sandler.

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

To celebrate the big announcement, Netflix released a fun teaser clip featuring Cookie Monster happily munching on the iconic Netflix “N.” Classic Cookie.