Is the Sesame Street TV Show Still on? Where to Watch Sesame Street in 2026.
Many parents and longtime fans have been asking the same question lately: is Sesame Street still on TV? The short answer is yes. Sesame Street has not been canceled, and new episodes are still being produced. However, where and how families watch the show has changed quite a bit over the past decade.
Between new streaming partnerships, changes in public broadcasting funding, and shifts in how children watch television, Sesame Street looks a little different today than it did even ten years ago.
Here’s a look at what’s happened and where families can still watch Sesame Street today.
Relationship Between Sesame Street and PBS
Sesame Street first premiered in 1969 on PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. The show was created by the nonprofit Children’s Television Workshop (now called Sesame Workshop) with the goal of helping preschool children learn letters, numbers, and social skills. Whatever your reason, even if it’s just to see your favorite orange Sesame Street characters, you still have options.
From the very beginning, Sesame Street was closely tied to public television. PBS stations across the United States aired the show for free, making it available to millions of families regardless of income.
Funding for PBS and many public television programs came partly through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a federally funded nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to support public media.
For decades, this partnership allowed Sesame Street to become one of the most influential children’s programs in television history.
The HBO Era
In 2015, Sesame Workshop made a major change by partnering with HBO.
Under this agreement, new Sesame Street episodes would premiere first on HBO, the premium cable network owned by WarnerMedia. After several months, those same episodes would then air on PBS stations for free.
The partnership allowed Sesame Workshop to produce more episodes each season and expand its educational programming. It also gave the nonprofit a much-needed financial boost at a time when public media funding was becoming less stable.
This arrangement lasted for several years and introduced Sesame Street to a new generation of viewers through HBO and the HBO Max streaming platform.
The Move to Streaming
As streaming services became the dominant way many families watched television, Sesame Street followed the trend.
New episodes and large libraries of classic content became available on platforms like HBO Max (later rebranded as Max). At the same time, PBS stations continued to air episodes, preserving the show’s tradition of free public access.
This dual system (streaming plus public television) became the new normal for Sesame Street during the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Changes to Public Broadcasting
In recent years, public broadcasting in the United States has faced increasing financial challenges.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which had long supported PBS and public television stations, lost significant federal funding in 2025 and 2026. Without that support, the organization eventually shut down operations.
While PBS itself still exists as a network of independent member stations, the loss of CPB funding has made it more difficult for public broadcasters to finance and distribute programming.
For Sesame Street, this meant continuing to rely more heavily on partnerships with streaming services and other distributors.
The State of Sesame Street in 2026
As of spring 2026, Sesame Street is still being produced by Sesame Workshop. The show continues to release new episodes and remains one of the longest-running television programs in history.
However, the way families watch Sesame Street has changed significantly compared to earlier decades. Instead of relying solely on broadcast television, the show now reaches audiences through a combination of streaming platforms, digital content, and limited television broadcasts.
Where to Watch Sesame Street in 2026
Families can still watch Sesame Street in several places. Many parents also search for what time Sesame Street comes on. Because PBS stations schedule their programming independently, the exact time can vary depending on your local station. In many areas, Sesame Street or Sesame Street segments appear during morning PBS Kids blocks, but the best way to find the exact time is to check your local PBS station schedule or the PBS Kids app. Families can also watch many Sesame Street episodes and clips on streaming platforms and the show’s official YouTube channel whenever it’s convenient.
PBS and Local Public TV Stations: Many PBS member stations continue to air episodes of Sesame Street as part of their children’s programming blocks.
PBS Kids: PBS Kids remains a major home for Sesame Street reruns and selected episodes through its broadcast channel and streaming app.
Streaming Services: Large libraries of Sesame Street episodes are available on streaming platforms that have partnered with Sesame Workshop over the years.
YouTube and Online Clips: Sesame Street’s official YouTube channels regularly post clips, songs, and educational segments featuring popular characters like Elmo, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, Telly Monster and Cookie Monster.
DVDs and Digital Libraries: Families can also access classic episodes and collections through DVD releases and digital stores.
We love Sesame Street DVDs. I don’t care if it’s old-fashioned–my disabled child can navigate his portable DVD player much easier than getting to a streaming service on our tv. This allows him greater independence. We also still use a Leappad 2 for the same reason–he can operate it himself allowing more independence. And, both are portable. He doesn’t mind watching the same episodes repeatedly.
Is Sesame Street Canceled?
No. Sesame Street has not been canceled. The show continues to produce new content and remains an important part of early childhood education and entertainment. What has changed is the distribution model.
Instead of relying on a single television network, Sesame Street now appears across multiple platforms.
For many families, that means streaming services and online videos have become the primary way children experience the show.
A Show That Keeps Changing
One reason Sesame Street has lasted for more than fifty years is its ability to adapt.
The show has evolved through changes in television technology, media companies, and viewing habits. From broadcast television to cable and now streaming, Sesame Street continues to find ways to reach new generations of children.
So while the way we watch Sesame Street may look different today, the neighborhood—and the characters who live there—are still very much around.