Sesame Street is making a major move, transitioning from HBO Max to Netflix under an exclusive global streaming deal. Starting with its upcoming 56th season, the beloved children’s show will premiere exclusively on Netflix, marking the end of its five-year tenure on HBO Max.
As part of the agreement, Netflix will gain access to 90 hours of previous episodes and plans to develop video games inspired by both Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders. Despite the streaming shift, new episodes will still air on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms in the U.S. on the same day as their Netflix debut—continuing a partnership with PBS that has lasted over 50 years.
Sesame Workshop described the collaboration as a distinctive public-private partnership involving Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The organization reiterated its commitment to the show’s mission of helping children become “smarter, stronger, and kinder.”
Season 56 will debut with a revamped format that centers each episode around a single 11-minute narrative, designed to deepen character development and amplify humor. A new animated segment, Tales From 123, will spotlight the everyday lives of iconic characters like Elmo and Cookie Monster within the charming apartment building at 123 Sesame Street.
Popular segments such as Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck will continue, joined by new features like Cookie Monster’s Cookie Cart and Abby’s Fairy Garden.
Executive producers Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings will return for the new season, joined by Halcyon Person as head writer. Person previously worked on Netflix’s Karma’s World and Dee & Friends in Oz.
Netflix underscored the significance of children’s programming, noting that family-friendly content makes up 15% of all viewing time on the platform.
