The beloved Sesame Street is back for its 55th season, and it’s pulling out all the stops with a dazzling lineup of celebrity guests. Premiering January 16 on Max, the new season promises not just the signature mix of fun and learning but also a deeper dive into emotional well-being.
The star-studded roster includes Grammy-winning artists SZA, Noah Kahan, Chris Stapleton, and jazz vocalist Samara Joy, alongside acclaimed actors Michael B. Jordan and Reneé Rapp. Adding to the excitement, tennis legend Billie Jean King and Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness will also make appearances.
This season tackles the timely topic of mental health and emotional well-being, offering children fun and relatable tools to understand and manage their feelings. As Sesame Workshop’s press release explains, the new episodes “focus on emotional well-being, helping children learn accessible strategies to comprehend and cope with big feelings.” Through fun, lighthearted, relatable playful segments, songs, and engaging “Street Stories,” kids will explore strategies like calming volcano breaths for anger, self-hugs for frustration, and wiggling out disappointment.
The curriculum, designed by Sesame Workshop’s Senior VP of Curriculum and Content, Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and expressing emotions. Dr. Truglio elaborated:
“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.”
Sal Perez, Sesame Street’s executive producer, also shared the show’s goals for this season:
“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…. we are empowering children with the strategies to help build resiliency and the foundational skills for emotional well-being.”
The season kicks off with Reneé Rapp on January 16, followed by Michael B. Jordan on January 23, and Billie Jean King rounding out the season on August 28. See the full lineup of upcoming guests below:
- Reneé Rapp (Thursday, January 16)
- Michael B. Jordan (Thursday, Jan. 23)
- Samara Joy (Thursday, Feb. 6)
- Noah Kahan (Thursday, March 6)
- SZA (Thursday, April 10)
- Chris Stapleton (Thursday, July 24)
- Jonathan Van Ness (Thursday, Aug. 21)
- Billie Jean King (Thursday, August 28)
This season’s theme aligns with SZA’s recent musings about releasing two albums of “peaceful children’s music” to complete her current contractual requirements, a move she hinted at while promoting her latest deluxe album Lana. Could this Sesame Street cameo be a glimpse of what’s to come? Fans are eager to find out.
As always, Big Bird, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, and the rest of the gang will keep the learning joyful and relatable in this iconic neighborhood. New episodes air every Thursday on Max and are also available on PBS KIDS. So mark your calendars and get ready to revisit the most famous street in the world, where stars, Muppets, and kids alike come together to learn, laugh, and grow.
Watch the official trailer for Sesame Street Season 55 below: