Netflix Secures New Sesame Street Episodes Post-HBO Max

Fans of the iconic children's show, Sesame Street, have reason to rejoice as the series, which first aired in 1969, is set to continue its legacy with a new streaming deal. After HBO and Max opted not to renew their contract at the end of 2024, Netflix and PBS have stepped in to bring the beloved program to audiences worldwide.

New episodes of Sesame Street will be available on Netflix, along with a comprehensive catalog of past episodes, accessible globally. Simultaneously, these new episodes will also be released on their original air date through PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform, ensuring that the show's long-standing relationship with PBS, which spans over 50 years, remains intact.

In an exciting development for gaming enthusiasts, this new deal also empowers Netflix to develop video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff series, Sesame Street Mecha Builders. This aligns with Netflix's ongoing efforts to expand its gaming offerings, allowing subscribers to enjoy games directly through the app using their mobile devices as controllers.

The announcement of this innovative partnership was shared by Sesame Street across their 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 its upcoming Season 56, Sesame Street is set to undergo some structural changes, introducing an 11-minute story segment per episode. This format shift draws inspiration from other popular character-driven children's shows like Bluey. Despite these changes, fans can look forward to the return of cherished segments such as Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck.

Sesame Street first aired in November 1969 and joined the PBS network in the 1970s, quickly becoming a cultural touchstone. In 2015, HBO and Max entered into a significant $35 million deal to produce new episodes, which concluded at the end of 2024. Although HBO and Max are stepping back from children's programming due to less favorable subscriber feedback, the Sesame Street library will remain available on their platforms until 2027, albeit without the production component of the original agreement.