Netflix Secures New Sesame Street Episodes Post-HBO Max Deal

Fans of the iconic children's television series, Sesame Street, can rejoice as the show, which first aired in 1969, continues its journey with new streaming platforms. After HBO and Max decided not to renew their contract at the end of 2024, Sesame Street is set to make its way to Netflix and PBS, ensuring that the beloved characters and educational content remain accessible to families worldwide.

Starting soon, viewers can enjoy both new episodes and a vast catalog of past episodes on Netflix globally. Additionally, new episodes will be available on the same day they air on PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform in the U.S., maintaining the show's longstanding relationship with public television. This move not only broadens the show's reach but also aligns with Netflix's expansion into gaming, as the deal allows for the development of video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders.

The announcement of this new partnership was shared across Sesame Street's social media channels on May 19, 2025. "The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder," stated the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the series.

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

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) May 19, 2025

For Season 56, Sesame Street is set to introduce some structural changes, featuring an 11-minute story segment in each episode, inspired by other character-driven children's shows like Bluey. While embracing new formats, the show will continue to include beloved segments such as Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck, ensuring that long-time fans find familiar comfort amidst the changes.

Since its debut in November 1969 and integration into the PBS network in the 1970s, Sesame Street has been a cultural touchstone. The partnership with HBO and Max, which began in 2015 with a $35 million deal for new episodes, concluded at the end of 2024 as the streamers shifted focus away from children's programming. Despite this, the Sesame Street library will remain available on HBO and Max until 2027, extending the original agreement but without new content production.