The neighborhood at 123 Sesame Street is officially open for a brand-new chapter. Sesame Street kicked-off its 56th season on November 10, marking more than five decades of iconic preschool programming, and for the first time ever, the beloved series is streaming on Netflix alongside its longtime home on PBS Kids. And this season, is all about feelings.
Executive producer Sal Perez tells Parents.com that the refreshed season is all about creating “interactive, immersive, and visually engaging” stories designed “to meet children’s most pressing needs.”
With a deeper emphasis on feelings, empathy, and everyday challenges kids can understand, Season 56 blends the heart of classic Sesame Street with a modern, global reach.
Episodes will be released in three volumes of four episodes each. Every 30-minute installment features two 11-minute storylines, giving even more room to explore emotions, adventures, problem-solving, and friendship.
The series will stream globally in more than 30 languages beginning November 10, 2025, which marks the show’s 56th anniversary. Families can still watch for free on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS channel, and PBS digital platforms. Sesame Workshop and Netflix are calling the collaboration a unique public-private partnership designed to bring Sesame Street to more children than ever before.
All of the beloved characters on Sesame Street are returning to share brand new stories. Bert, Ernie, Abby, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the gang aren’t going anywhere, but they are taking on fresh challenges that help preschoolers navigate big feelings. The first volume includes:
- Elmo Runs the Race
- Cookie Monster’s Big Puzzle
- Abby’s Magical Beasties
- Grover’s Suitcase
For the first time ever, viewers will venture inside the famous brownstone apartment with a new animated segment called “Tales from 123.”
This fun five-minute series gives kids a peek at life beyond the stoop, from silly elevator hijinks to musical stairs and surprise visits from Oscar the Grouch. It’s a playful expansion of the Sesame Street world that longtime fans will appreciate.
While the season is full of music, laughs, and classic Sesame fun, its core mission is emotional growth.
Rosemarie Truglio, PhD, Senior VP of Global Education at Sesame Workshop, notes that kids will learn “… skills like perspective-taking, listening, and cooperation, children will see how even tough moments can be turned into opportunities for caring, connection, and fun.” In a world where big feelings can feel overwhelming, Sesame Street aims to “meet the moment” for today’s families with tools that support compassion, communication, and confidence.
And as always,there is going to be a lot of star power on the stoop. This season also welcomes exciting celebrity guests, including NASCAR champion Bubba Wallace and superstar Miley Cyrus. Their visits bring fresh perspectives while reinforcing themes of kindness, courage, and emotional understanding.
Tune-in to the new season of Sesame Street steaming now on Netflix.
Photo Credit: Sesame Street
