Netflix and PBS to Stream New Sesame Street Episodes After HBO Max Deal Ends

The journey to Sesame Street continues. The iconic children’s television series, a staple since 1969, will now stream on Netflix and PBS following the expiration of its long-term agreement with HBO and Max in late 2024.

Netflix will offer new episodes alongside the show’s extensive archive globally, while PBS stations and PBS Kids will air new episodes on their broadcast day. Additionally, as Netflix expands its gaming division—enabling subscribers to play games via the app with mobile devices as controllers—this deal includes developing video games for Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders.

Sesame Street shared news of the partnership on social media on May 19. “The collaboration with Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting forms a unique public-private alliance, ensuring Sesame Street continues to help children worldwide grow smarter, stronger, and kinder,” stated a post from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the beloved 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 56th season, the show introduces structural changes, with each episode featuring an 11-minute central story, drawing inspiration from character-driven children’s series like Bluey. Fans can also look forward to returning favorites, including Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck.

Sesame Street premiered in November 1969, joining the PBS network in the 1970s. A cultural touchstone for decades, the show partnered with HBO and Max in 2015 through a $35 million deal for new episodes.

That partnership concluded in late 2024 as HBO and Max shifted away from children’s programming, citing limited subscriber engagement. However, the Sesame Street library will remain available on HBO and Max through 2027, extending the original 10-year agreement without new production.