“It’s been an incredible year”: Sesame Workshop’s Gabriela Arenas talks kidults, collabs and what’s next

Gabriela, it’s great to catch up. To kick us off, how’s the past year been for Sesame? What have been some highlights?
It’s been an incredible year filled with nonstop global momentum for Sesame Workshop! Last spring, we shared the exciting news that Sesame Street would debut its newest season globally on Netflix, expanding our reach to more than 300 million households across 190 countries and 30 languages – and we’ve maintained free access in the US through PBS, our long-time partner of over 50 years.

Soon after, we announced a newly expanded partnership with YouTube, making the platform home to the largest digital library of Sesame Street content. And just last month, we furthered our multi-platform strategy through a new partnership with Tubi, bringing a selection of nostalgic Sesame Street episodes from Seasons one to 38 to the free streaming service. Together, these milestones signal meaningful growth for our brand and reflect our commitment to meeting children and families wherever they are.

“Over the past few years, Sesame Workshop has become a leader in the kidult space.”

As our global footprint expands, our characters regularly venture beyond the familiar brownstone to engage with audiences on some of the world’s biggest stages. At the 2026 Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover connected with athletes, commentators, and creators including Tom Daley, Laila Edwards, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Maxim Naumov, Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski and Adam Rippon. The resulting content blended humour, heart, and authenticity, creating feel-good moments that resonated across cultures and generations.

@sesamestreet Ciao, Rocco! We are SO glad you made it to Milan just in time to meet up with our friends Madison Chock and Evan Bates! 🪨⛸️ ❄️🇮🇹 #WinterOlympics ♬ original sound – Sesame Street

You mention Sesame Street landing on Netflix. What has the reaction been like to that? Has it fuelled activity licensing-wise?
Sesame Street’s arrival on Netflix has been met with strong enthusiasm from both fans and licensees worldwide. Over the past year, we leaned into this excitement by co-producing playful crossover content for social media with other iconic Netflix properties, including parody videos such as Cookie Monster in Paris, “Forks Out”: A Benoit Blanc Sesame Street Mystery, and If Sesame Street Were Set in Hawkins. The Stranger Things crossover even inspired a co-branded product collection featuring nine unique apparel and accessory pieces, including exclusive designs of “Upside Down” versions of beloved Sesame Street characters.

Licensing-wise, our increased visibility and accessibility have led to more opportunities for international audiences to engage with our brand, with innovative collaborations around the world bringing Sesame Street into everyday life in new ways. In Japan, new Sesame Street Market stores are opening as immersive retail and café destinations, alongside a fresh collection from Gelato Pique. In China, an Elmo-inspired float by artist KAWS appeared in Hong Kong’s first ever Water Parade, while Sesame Street: Magical Art World continues touring across Asia – and most recently, we extended our partnership with LINE FRIENDS with a mall pop-up event in Chengdu featuring large-scale character installations, themed photo zones, exclusive merchandise and café food items.

In Latin America, Plaza Sésamo partnered with Volvo Cars Mexico on sustainability and road safety education. In the Middle East, a new live show launched in Dubai, followed by a regional licensing deal. Europe, too, is celebrating – from Bert and Ernie traffic lights in Germany to Sesamstraat’s 50th anniversary in the Netherlands. These exciting new international partnerships and activations reflect Sesame Street’s ongoing global growth.

A lot is made of how kids’ TV today has to work across multiple platforms today – including being ‘clippable’ for YouTube and TikTok. Has that evolving landscape changed how the brand ‘shows up’ content-wise?
It’s true that the media landscape has changed significantly, with short-form content emerging as a leading format. While we’re constantly evolving our social media strategy to stay at the forefront of popular culture, our core approach hasn’t changed. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we create content designed to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We focus on meeting the most pressing needs of children and families – from building school readiness to encouraging playful problem-solving, supporting emotional well-being, and promoting positive self-identity.

“It’s shaping up to be a big year for fan favourites Elmo and Grover.”

A key part of our strategy is working with like-minded partners whose values align with ours, pursuing collaborations that feel authentic and purposeful. A great example is our collab with Care Bears, where two beloved childhood brands came together for the first time ever to celebrate friendship, joy, and heart. Both Sesame Street and Care Bears have a rich emotional legacy, making the campaign feel like a natural fit. We worked with brands like PUMA, Posh Peanut, and Cotton On BODY to bring the collaboration to life in ways that felt special and collectible. Recognizing that a strong social campaign is an essential part of any successful product launch, we also extended the collaboration with playful, social-first content.

Another example is our recent collaboration with popular children’s content creator Ms. Rachel. This iconic crossover highlighted a major strength of both brands: teaching important life lessons for littles through engaging, music-driven content. It began with four co-produced videos featuring Ms. Rachel and our beloved characters, later expanding into a co-branded product line – including toys from Melissa & Doug and Spin Master available exclusively at Walmart, a Random House Books for Young Readers board book, and a playful clothing collection from Bentex Group and H.I.S. International for infants and toddlers – all designed to encourage play, learning, and joy.

By blending engaging digital content with thoughtfully designed products, we create experiences that delight children, support learning, and extend the reach of our mission across every platform.

Before we wrap up, which categories do you see the brand growing in as we move into the rest of 2026 and beyond? Where do you see untapped potential?
Over the past few years, Sesame Workshop has become a leader in the kidult space, and we expect that momentum to continue through 2026 and beyond. With nearly six decades of history, we know our audience is multigenerational, which is why we focus on products, content and experiences that resonate with both the young and the young-at-heart. From our newly re-imagined format for the Sesame Street series, to toys and books, to collectibles and lifestyle items, we’re always exploring fresh new ways for kids and adults alike to build – or deepen – a lifelong connection to our brand.

Looking ahead, we’ll continue partnering with innovative pop culture creators to grow our kidult offerings – especially with some extra special, heartwarmingly nostalgic anniversaries on the horizon. We can’t share all the details just yet, but let’s just say it’s shaping up to be a big year for fan favourites Elmo and Grover. We’re excited to keep surprising and delighting fans with experiences that spark joy, curiosity, and a little Sesame Street magic at any age.

Nicely teased! Thanks again Gabriela.