Make way for a sunny day on YouTube. Starting January 2026, Sesame Street will launch its largest digital library to date on the platform, featuring hundreds of full classic episodes for young viewers around the world.
The initiative is designed to help young viewers grow “smarter, stronger, and kinder, one episode at a time.”
The show’s main YouTube channel has seen impressive growth, now boasting more than 27 million subscribers and over 5 billion total views. Alongside the classic episodes, Sesame Street will also continue producing original content specifically for the platform, featuring its iconic Muppets tailored for the YouTube audience.
Behind the scenes, Sesame Workshop — the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street aims to utilize its 50+ years of experience creating research-driven, curriculum-based children’s programming. The organization plans to host workshops for YouTube creators, offering guidance on producing engaging and educational content for the platform.
The announcement comes after the major changes the long-running educational children’s television series is expected to undergo. This November, new episodes will debut on Netflix after the streaming giant has secured the rights to over 90 hours of library content, serving as the show’s new exclusive streaming home.
These recent changes have further solidified the franchise’s stability, especially since it benefits from government funding — a support that became crucial after the Trump administration’s cuts to public media, which had affected the franchise. Greater access and availability across various platforms will allow the series to reach wider audiences for many years to come.
