Sesame Street Joins Netflix Lineup: New Season and Classic Episodes Coming Soon

The beloved children’s show finds a new streaming home while maintaining its PBS roots

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[Sesame Street Netflix Announcement]

In an exciting development for families and nostalgic adults alike, Sesame Street joins Netflix’s lineup later this year, bringing both new episodes and classic content to the global streaming platform. Netflix announced the landmark deal on May 19, 2025, securing worldwide streaming rights to the iconic children’s series, including its upcoming 56th season and 90 hours of previous episodes (https://sesameworkshop.org/about-us/press-room/sesame-street-is-coming-to-netflix/).

The move marks a significant shift in the streaming landscape for one of television’s most enduring educational programs. While the show finds a new digital home on Netflix, it will continue its more than 50-year legacy on PBS, with new episodes available simultaneously on both platforms—a win for accessibility and early childhood education.

“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 PBS Kids platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship,” Sesame Workshop announced in a statement (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sesame-street-release-date-news).

The Netflix-Sesame Street Deal: What You Need to Know

The streaming agreement between Netflix and Sesame Workshop represents a “unique public-private partnership” that ensures the beloved show can continue its mission of helping “children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder” (https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/netflix-sesame-street-worldwide-streaming-deal-1236403185/).

Under the terms of the deal, Netflix gains:

• Exclusive worldwide premiere rights to the next three seasons of Sesame Street
• Access to 90 hours of past episodes for its global audience
• Rights to develop video games based on both Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders

For American viewers, the partnership brings a welcome change from the previous HBO/Max arrangement. Instead of new episodes premiering on a premium service with a months-long delay before reaching PBS, the Netflix deal ensures same-day availability on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/new-season-of-sesame-street-to-stream-on-netflix-and-air-on-pbs).

“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,” said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, in a statement (https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2025/05/19/sesame-street-netflix-deal-pbs/).

What’s New in Sesame Street Season 56?

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[Sesame Street Characters]

The upcoming 56th season of Sesame Street promises exciting format changes and fresh content while maintaining the heart and educational value that has defined the series for generations. According to Sesame Workshop, the new season will feature:

New Format and Storytelling Approach

• Episodes will now center on one 11-minute story, allowing for “even more character-driven humor and heart”
• Direct-to-camera moments where characters speak directly to viewers, inviting them into the action
• Animation overlays that highlight music, action, humor, and important story moments

New Segments and Returning Favorites

• Tales from 123: A new animated segment that takes viewers inside the famous apartment building on Sesame Street
• Cookie Monster’s Cookie Cart: A new way for viewers to play along as Cookie Monster opens his very own cart on Sesame Street
• Abby’s Fairy Garden: A magical space home to surprising and delightful creatures
• Return of fan-favorite segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck (https://sesameworkshop.org/about-us/press-room/sesame-street-is-coming-to-netflix/)

The creative team behind the new season includes executive producers Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings, with Emmy, Humanitas, and NAACP Award nominee Halcyon Person joining as head writer. Person previously worked as head writer and co-executive producer for Netflix children’s shows “Karma’s World” and “Dee & Friends in Oz” (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sesame-street-release-date-news).

A Financial Lifeline for Sesame Workshop

The Netflix deal comes at a crucial time for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. In December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would not renew its contract for new episodes of the show on HBO Max (now Max), ending a partnership that began in 2015 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/arts/television/sesame-street-hbo-max.html).

This decision, coupled with challenges in federal funding, created what Sesame Workshop CEO Sherrie Westin described as a “perfect storm” of financial pressure. In March 2025, the organization announced layoffs, citing the need to “reduce the size of our organization” amid the changing media and funding landscape (https://current.org/2025/03/sesame-workshop-announces-layoffs-citing-federal-funding-and-distribution-limbo/).

According to financial reports, Sesame Workshop faced a 5.3milliondeficitinfiscalyear2023,withprojectionsofapotential5.3 million deficit in fiscal year 2023, with projections of a potential 5.3milliondeficitinfiscalyear2023,withprojectionsofapotential40 million deficit for the following year without significant cost-cutting measures (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/business/media/sesame-street-layoffs-funding-cuts.html).

While the financial terms of the Netflix deal have not been publicly disclosed, industry experts suggest it provides a critical revenue stream for Sesame Workshop, though likely at a lower rate than the previous HBO arrangement. However, the partnership with Netflix—which boasts more than 300 million subscribers worldwide—potentially offers a much broader audience reach (https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2025/05/19/sesame-street-netflix-deal-pbs/).

Sesame Street’s Streaming Journey: From HBO to Netflix

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[Sesame Street Netflix Announcement]

Sesame Street’s path to Netflix represents the latest chapter in the show’s evolving distribution strategy. For most of its history, the program aired exclusively on PBS, but financial pressures led to new partnerships in the streaming era:

The HBO Era (2015-2024)

In 2015, facing financial challenges, Sesame Workshop partnered with HBO in a landmark deal that granted the premium cable outlet a nine-month window of exclusivity for new episodes before they would air on PBS (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sesame-street-hbo-max-pbs-deal-1235252239/).

When HBO Max (now Max) launched in 2020, the streaming service became the digital home for Sesame Street under a five-year agreement that included exclusive rights to new episodes and access to the show’s extensive library (https://deadline.com/2019/10/sesame-street-hbo-max-deal-move-from-hbo-5-year-sesame-workshop-full-library-new-series-specials-spinoffs-1202750909/).

The Netflix Era (2025-Present)

The transition to Netflix marks a significant shift in how viewers can access Sesame Street:

• Global reach: Netflix’s international presence brings Sesame Street to audiences worldwide
• Same-day PBS availability: Unlike the HBO deal, new episodes will be available on PBS simultaneously
• Free access restored: For the first time in a decade, American families can watch new episodes for free on public television without a months-long delay (https://www.npr.org/2025/05/19/nx-s1-5403663/sesame-street-netflix-pbs)

Sherrie Rollins Westin, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, emphasized that the partnership will expand the show’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” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2025/05/19/sesame-street-netflix-deal-pbs/).

What This Means for Viewers and Families

The Netflix-Sesame Street partnership offers several benefits for viewers:

Enhanced Accessibility

• Netflix subscribers gain access to both new episodes and classic content
• PBS viewers can watch new episodes without delay, maintaining the show’s public television mission
• Global audiences can enjoy Sesame Street through Netflix’s worldwide platform

Family-Friendly Features

Netflix has built dedicated kids’ profiles with parental controls, allowing families to create a safe viewing environment. Parents can set controls, check what their children are watching, lock profiles with a PIN, and receive helpful recaps (https://sesameworkshop.org/about-us/press-room/sesame-street-is-coming-to-netflix/).

According to Netflix, kids and family viewing represents 15% of the platform’s total viewing, making Sesame Street a valuable addition to its children’s programming lineup, which includes shows like “Ms. Rachel,” “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” and “CoComelon Lane” (https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/netflix-sesame-street-worldwide-streaming-deal-1236403185/).

Educational Impact

The deal ensures that Sesame Street’s educational mission continues to reach children worldwide. For over 50 years, the show has been at the forefront of educational children’s programming, using research-based approaches to help children develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

When Will Sesame Street Be Available on Netflix?

While an exact premiere date hasn’t been announced, Netflix confirmed that the new season of Sesame Street will debut “later this year” (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sesame-street-release-date-news). The 56th season will be released in three batches, allowing for a steady stream of new content throughout the year.

In addition to new episodes, Netflix will make 90 hours of previous Sesame Street content available to subscribers. Meanwhile, classic episodes will remain available on Max through 2027 under the terms of Warner Bros. Discovery’s existing library rights agreement (https://deadline.com/2024/12/max-hbo-sesame-street-deal-ends-original-episodes-1236202894/).

The Future of Sesame Street in the Streaming Age

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[Sesame Street Characters]

The Netflix deal represents more than just a new distribution channel for Sesame Street—it signals the show’s continued evolution in the digital age. As streaming platforms become increasingly central to how families consume content, this partnership ensures that one of television’s most beloved educational programs remains accessible and relevant.

For generations of viewers who grew up with Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang, the show’s arrival on Netflix offers a chance to share these cherished characters with a new generation. At the same time, the continued presence on PBS maintains the program’s commitment to free, accessible educational content for all children.

As Sesame Street prepares to join the Netflix lineup later this year, fans can look forward to innovative new content alongside the timeless educational values that have made the show a cornerstone of children’s television for more than five decades.

Are you excited to see Sesame Street join the Netflix lineup? Share your favorite Sesame Street memories in the comments below, and let us know which characters you’re most looking forward to seeing in the new season!