Sesame Street Heading to Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics!

Our furry friends from Sesame Street will once again help with NBC's Olympic coverage. 

NBCUniversal is once again teaming up with Sesame Street to bring Elmo and his friends to Italy as part of its comprehensive coverage of the Winter Olympic Games Milan Cortina 2026.

Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, and more will be featured in activations across Sesame Street’s social media platforms leading into and during the Games. Following their arrival in Italy, NBCU will incorporate the Sesame Street team into its comprehensive social and broadcast coverage surrounding the Games. Elmo and friends first joined NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage in Paris in 2024 and were featured in bespoke illustrations detailing their hot air balloon journey to Paris. They also made appearances on TODAY, Access Hollywood, NBC Nightly News for Kids, NBC Sports’ daytime Olympics coverage, met with Team USA athletes, and extensively shared their Paris experience via Sesame Street and NBC Olympics social accounts.

“Sesame Street has long been a source of joy and learning for families across the country,” said Lyndsay Signor, SVP, Sports Marketing, Universal Television Entertainment Group. “Bringing Elmo, Cookie Monster, and their friends to the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina after the success in Paris adds a playful and heartwarming touch to our Olympic storytelling. Their universal charm fits perfectly with the global spirit of the Olympics. And Cookie Monster — we’ve got a fresh batch of biscotti waiting for you!”

“We are excited that Sesame Street will once again be featured as part of NBC Sports’ superb coverage of the Olympics, bringing cultural touchstones together,” said Samantha Kennedy, Vice President Marketing and Brand Strategy for Sesame Workshop. “By providing light-hearted content with athletes and NBC talent, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, and their friends will connect with audiences of all ages, promoting kindness and respect—and providing lots of laughter along the way.”

“Elmo is very excited to come to Milan – that’s in Italy! Elmo can’t wait to cheer on all the athletes at the Olympics. Elmo’s mommy is knitting him a special red, white, and blue hat. Yeah baby!” said Elmo.

Cookie Monster added: “Me been practicing curling with a giant chocolate chippie! Me can’t wait to try all the delicious Italian treats. Cannoli, me got me eye on you!”

Said Grover, “And I, your cute, adorable, and enthusiastic friend Grover am available if Team USA needs any help on the ice. I have been trying to work on my camel spin, but it is difficult to find a camel on Sesame Street. Maybe I can drive the Zamboni!”

With unique and unforgettable backdrops throughout northern Italy, the 2026 Winter Olympics will span from Milan to Cortina with events taking place across multiple venues and regions. This will be the second time the Olympics are held in Cortina (1956 Winter Olympics) and the fourth time overall that Italy has hosted an Olympic Games (1960 Rome Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, which is the last time there was a Winter Games in the Central European Time Zone).

In February 2025, NBCU announced that the NBC broadcast network and streaming service Peacock will be the company’s primary platforms for its coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 6-22, 2026. 

lick here for more programming information and here for information about the Paralympics, which will take place March 6-15, 2026.

Sesame Street Returns for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Sesame Street is set to return for their 46th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow. 

According to Alan Muraoka - Alan on "Sesame Street",

"The Sesame Street float will perform at Macy's sometime between 11:00-11:15am."

Hi friends! The Sesame Street float will perform at Macy's sometime between 11:00-11:15am on NBC. This will be Sesame Street's 47th year in the parade and my 21st appearance. So thrilled to be a part of this annual tradition. See you Thursday!

 

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:30 am on NBC.
Set your DVR's!

DVR Alert: Sesame Street Muppets Celebrate Christmas in Rockefeller Center!

The Sesame Street Muppets will be on hand (so to speak) to celebrate the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The event will be hosted by Today's Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Mario Lopez.

Other celebrities announced include Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, Jimmie Allen, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Brett Eldredge, Mickey Guyton, Alicia Keys, Dan + Shay, The Shindellas, Louis York, and more.

Christmas in Rockefeller Center airs tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC - though some NBC owned stations might start it at 7pm 

Fraggle's Set to Rock the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

According to AdWeek, "The Fraggles are about to rock the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade"

Apple TV+ announced a partnership between Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

The collaboration will feature Uncle “Travelling” Matt in a series of videos that will roll out over Apple TV+ and Macy’s social media in the week leading up to the parade culminating in live broadcast on NBC Thanksgiving Day.

During the videos, Uncle “Travelling” Matt will be looking to answer age-old questions about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day celebration.

Asked about his upcoming adventure to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Uncle “Travelling” Matt said, “Here at Fraggle Rock, we’re celebrating our favorite holiday, Night of the Lights. As an explorer, I’m excited to learn about the Silly Creature’s holiday known as ‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day.’ I’m on my way there now. Well, not right now because I’m talking to you. Anyway, nobody’s better prepared to ask the unknowable questions like, ‘What’s a parade?’”

You can see a promo below:

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This isn't the first time the Fraggles have participated in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade though. Our Fraggle friends previously appeared in both the 1983 and 1984 parades.

Fraggle Rock in 1984 Macy's Parade

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air NBC and stream on Peacock on Thursday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. until noon in all time zones. 

Fans can follow Uncle “Travelling” Matt’s journey on social via @AppleTVPlus and @Macys or #MacysParade.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock "Night of the Lights" holiday special premiers November 18 on Apple TV+. 

Puppets of NYC on Display!

Last Thursday, the Museum of New York graciously invited me to the opening of their "Puppets of NYC" exhibit. 

I decided to not only check out their exhibit, but see what other Muppets of NYC I could find on my way there, as well.

My first stop was FAO Schwarz were I heard rumor that they still had "Elmo's Monster Maker", Sesame Street's answer to the "Muppet What Not Workshop" FAO had for many years at their former location.  

I was delighted to discover that the "experience" was still available even though there is no mention of it on FAO's website. 

The main difference between "Elmo's Monster Maker" and "The Muppet What Not Workshop" is that the pieces are velcroed on and not permanently hot glued in place. They may also give you a few extra parts so you can transform your monster again and again once you get home.

The monsters come in three body colors and styles Red, pink, Green, and Blue. 

After you pick your body, an FAO cast member will show all the styles of party they have and put them directly onto your monster to see how they look. (Opposed to the colorform type vinyl stickers that were used to help the "Muppet What Not Workshop" make your puppet. 

Each nose is not only a different color and shape, but also has different sound elements as well. 

Below you can see my monster all complete...and it's a puppet too!

Not far from FAO's current location in 30 Rock is the NBC studios store where I found a signed copy of "NBC and 30 Rock." Inside there's a whole page dedicated to the Muppet Pipes. 

I also stopped at the Met to see Alex Da Corte's Big Big installation on the roof, 

though sadly it was closed due to inclement weather (it was over 90 degrees). 

Although, I didn't get to see the Big Bird statue in person, I was able to grab a copy of the small book they had in the gift shop explaining the exhibit and it's homages. 

My last stop was the Museum of New York where they invited puppeteers to kick off the opening with a puppet parade / red carpet event hosted by Shari Lewis' daughter Mallory and Lambchop.

Rick Lyon gets ready for an interview 

A few famous puppets including those from Shining Time Station as well as people dressed up as puppets made up the parade. Friend of the blog John Papovitch and his puppet Milo were there as well. 

The exhibit itself is broken down into 3 categories: The Set, The Stage and The Street.

The Set features probably the most famous puppet on display including those from Pinwheel, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, Being John Malcovich, and a couple Muppets as well.

Puppets from Pinwheel

Lamb Chop's Play-Along

We were informed by puppeteer Rick Nylon that the Oscar on display is the one Carrol Spinney used for most of the 50 years he worked on Sesame Street. 

If you go to see the exhibit be sure to look at the back side of Oscar where you can see the hole in the can Carroll Spinney used to operate our favorite grouch. 

It was an unexpected surprise to see both Queen Peuta from The Muppets' The Land of Gorch sketches on Saturday Night Live, and Mahna Mahna and two Snowths - who made their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show before performing the classic on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

The set area also features a bird puppet from Tau Bennet and Howdy Doody.

The stage area features famous puppets used in NYC stage productions including The Lion King, Duke Ellington, and Trekkie Monster from Avenue Q. 

Finally the street segment is dedicated to puppets features in parades an other NYC street activities.

As you exit the exhibit there are photos of Jim Henson, Heather Henson, and a behind the scenes look at the Sesame Street performers, as well as a shadow box to perform your own show.

We found a few Sesame Street related items in the gift shop: 

Thanks again to the Museum of NYC for invite. 

The Museums of NYC's Puppets of NYC exhibit will run through April 3, 2022.