Sesame Street, the iconic children’s television series that’s educated and entertained generations of kids, is making its way to Netflix. Starting later this year, Season 56 will debut on the streaming giant as part of a new content deal, marking a significant move for the long-running show after parting ways with Max (formerly HBO Max) at the end of 2024. Netflix has secured exclusive worldwide premiere rights to the new season.
The upcoming season won’t be business as usual. Netflix describes Season 56 as “reimagined,” with notable changes to its structure and storytelling approach. Each episode will now center on a single 11-minute narrative, supplemented by new animated segments. According to Netflix, this tighter format allows for “more character-driven humor and heart,” signaling a shift toward a more serialized and emotionally resonant style of storytelling.
In addition to streaming new episodes, Netflix will also offer 90 hours of past Sesame Street content, though the platform hasn’t yet disclosed which seasons or episodes will be included. The deal also includes plans to develop interactive Sesame Street games, adding a digital play component to complement the show’s educational goals.
This move adds momentum to Netflix’s growing push into children’s programming, which has recently expanded with the addition of popular preschool content like Ms. Rachel. Bringing Sesame Street into the fold gives Netflix a legacy property with decades of trust among families and educators—a significant asset in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape for kids’ content.
For Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the series, the new partnership offers a chance to modernize the format while retaining the show’s core values of inclusivity, curiosity, and learning. As it enters its 56th season, Sesame Street is evolving once again—this time with Netflix as its new home base.
