Fans of the iconic children's show Sesame Street can breathe a sigh of relief as the beloved series, which has been entertaining and educating young audiences since 1969, will continue to be accessible. After HBO and Max decided not to renew their longstanding contract with the series at the end of 2024, a new deal has been struck with Netflix and PBS. This agreement ensures that new episodes of Sesame Street will be available to stream worldwide on Netflix, alongside the show's extensive catalog of past episodes. Additionally, new episodes will debut on the same day on PBS stations and PBS Kids platforms in the U.S., maintaining a cherished partnership that spans over 50 years.
This move to Netflix is particularly exciting as the streaming giant is expanding its gaming division. Subscribers will soon be able to play games directly through the Netflix app, using their mobile devices as controllers. As part of this new deal, Netflix will have the opportunity to develop video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders, further enhancing the interactive experience for young viewers.
Sesame Street announced this exciting development via their social media channels on May 19, 2025. They expressed gratitude for the support from Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, highlighting the unique public-private partnership that will help the show continue its mission of helping children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
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… pic.twitter.com/B76MxQzrpI
For its 56th season, Sesame Street will undergo some structural changes to keep up with contemporary children's programming trends. Each episode will feature an 11-minute story at its core, drawing inspiration from popular character-driven shows like Bluey. However, the show will not abandon its roots, as fans can look forward to the return of beloved segments such as Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck.
Since its debut in November 1969, Sesame Street has been a cultural phenomenon and became part of the PBS network in the 1970s. HBO and Max joined the fray in 2015 with a significant $35 million deal to produce new episodes. Although that partnership concluded at the end of 2024 due to a shift away from children's programming, the Sesame Street library will remain available on HBO and Max until 2027, albeit without the production component.
