Global audiences will now be able to enjoy the antics of Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and friends as Sesame Street has found a new home on Netflix.
The streaming platform announced Monday that the 56th season of the long-running kids’ series will debut later this year, along with 90 hours of previous episodes.
Additionally, U.S. audiences will have access to new episodes free of charge, as PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms will air new episodes on the same day and date they stream on Netflix.
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
Sherrie Rollins Westin, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, said in a social media post, “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 that children in communities across the U.S. continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love.”
Netflix said season 56 will be released in three batches, with episodes containing new formats and segments, including one 11-minute story, which provides the opportunity to tell stories with even more character-driven humor and heart, and a new animated segment, Tales From 123, that takes viewers inside the iconic apartment building.
Season 56 will also introduce new ways for kids and parents to play along, with features like Cookie Monster’s Cookie Cart and Abby’s Fairy Garden.
Sesame Street was previously part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service, Max (soon to be HBO Max), but it was dropped in December 2024 as part of a reorientation away from children’s programming.
However, old episodes will still be available on HBO Max through 2027.