TVKIDS
Season 55 of Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street is slated to premiere on Max on January 16, with new episodes releasing every Thursday.
This season’s curriculum will focus on emotional well-being, helping children learn accessible strategies to comprehend and cope with big feelings through lighthearted, relatable stories. Celebrity special guests include Reneé Rapp, Michael B. Jordan, Samara Joy, Noah Kahan, SZA and more.
Additional guests who will make appearances are Chris Stapleton, Jonathan Van Ness and Billie Jean King.
In the debut episode, “Beachball Bop,” Elmo learns how to do volcano breaths after he feels angry. Rapp makes an appearance as well.
Also this season, Mecha Elmo, Mecha Cookie and Mecha Abby make their Sesame Street debut as Mecha Builders shorts air within selected episodes. Sesame Street Nature Explorers shorts will also air.
Season 55 will be available on local PBS stations across the U.S. and on the free PBS KIDS Video app in fall 2025.
“New episodes of Sesame Street will help young viewers understand and express their feelings, learn new mindfulness practices and, as always, have a blast with their favorite furry and funny friends,” said Sal Perez, executive producer of Sesame Street. “Whether it’s taking a volcano breath when angry, learning to give yourself a hug when frustrated or wiggling it out when disappointed, we are empowering children with the strategies to help build resiliency and the foundational skills for emotional well-being.”
“This season’s emotional well-being curriculum was developed in response to the growing mental health crisis affecting children globally,” noted Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Sesame Workshop’s senior VP of curriculum and content. “Focusing on emotion awareness and social connection skills, children will learn that all feelings are important and that we all experience big feelings, as well as how to navigate social scenarios with friends, families and the wider community.”
