YouTube just scored a major win in the streaming wars: Sesame Street.
In a new extended partnership with Sesame Workshop, the platform will become the largest digital library of Sesame Street content by January 2026, with hundreds of full episodes (including classic ones) and new content created specifically for the YouTube audience. That’s in addition to a creator-focused initiative where Sesame Workshop will offer workshops to help YouTube creators produce kid-friendly educational content.
This new deal arrives as Sesame Street prepares for a high-profile debut of new episodes on Netflix and PBS Kids in November, via a separate agreement that gives Netflix roughly 90 hours of library content. Meanwhile, some episodes remain available on HBO Max. But YouTube is about to eclipse all of them, combining volume, accessibility, and platform-native content.
The partnership also reflects YouTube’s dominant position in the kids content space. Channels like Ms. Rachel and Cocomelon have already made YouTube the go-to digital playground for preschoolers. Now, with the addition of Sesame Street, YouTube is both legitimizing its educational credentials and ensuring its grip on the next generation of viewers.
It’s also a strategic rebound for Sesame Workshop. The company lost its primary streaming partner when Warner Bros. Discovery ended its HBO Max deal in 2024, and public broadcast support has been in question for years due to political shifts and funding cuts. But this new two-pronged approach, Netflix for prestige and reach, YouTube for scale and creator integration—positions Sesame Street with broader distribution than it’s had in a decade.
The message is clear: Sesame Street is no longer just a TV show. It’s now a multi-platform brand that understands where kids are actually watching.
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