The beloved Sesame Street is back for its 55th season, and it’s doing it all with a dazzling lineup of celebrity guests. The new season, which premieres January 16 on Max, promises not only 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 singer Samara Joy, along with acclaimed actors Michael B. Jordan and Reneé Rapp. Adding to the excitement, tennis legend Billie Jean King and Queer Eyes Jonathan Van Ness will also make appearances.
This season tackles the current topic of mental health and emotional well-being, offering kids fun and relatable tools to understand and manage their emotions. As Sesame Workshop’s press release explains, the new episodes focus on emotional well-being, helping children learn accessible strategies for understanding and dealing with big emotions. Through fun, light-hearted, relatable playful segments, songs, and engaging “Street Stories,” kids will explore strategies like calming volcano breaths for anger, self-hugs for frustration, and shaking off 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 emotional awareness and social connection skills, children will learn that all emotions are important and that we all experience great emotions, as well as how to navigate social scenarios with friends, families and society at large.”
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 fun with their favorite furry and funny friends…we’re empowering kids with strategies to help building resilience and the basic skills for emotional well-being.”
The season kicks off with Reneé Rapp on January 16th, followed by Michael B. Jordan on January 23rd and Billie Jean King ending the season on August 28th. See the full lineup of upcoming guests below:
- Reneé Rapp (Thursday 16 January)
- Michael B. Jordan (Thursday, January 23)
- Samara Joy (Thursday, February 6)
- Noah Kahan (Thursday, March 6)
- SZA (Thursday, April 10)
- Chris Stapleton (Thursday July 24)
- Jonathan Van Ness (Thursday, August 21)
- Billie Jean King (Thursday, August 28)
This season’s theme aligns with SZA’s recent musings on releasing two albums of “peaceful children’s music” to fulfill her current contract requirements, a move she hinted at while promoting her latest deluxe album Lana. Could this Sesame Street cameo be a glimpse of things 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 learning fun 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 children come together to learn, laugh and grow.
Watch the official Sesame Street Season 55 trailer below:
