Netflix expands Sesame Street, Gabby’s Dollhouse and kids slate – A new Sesame Street film, additional seasons of the landmark series and fresh adventures from the world of Gabby’s Dollhouse lead a major expansion of Netflix’s preschool and children’s offering.
The slate also introduces Puppy Pirates, renews Bad Dinosaurs for two more seasons and expands Netflix Playground with new games. Netflix says kids and family programming accounted for 15 per cent of its total viewing hours in the first half of 2026.
For Australian families, the announcement creates a run of new releases through the final months of 2026 and into 2027. It also shows Netflix building beyond passive viewing, with series, films, games, audio and curated collections gathered around familiar children’s brands.
Sesame Street expands on Netflix
Netflix is developing a new Sesame Street film with Rideback and Sesame Workshop. Plot, cast and release details have not yet been announced, but the project will send Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and their friends into a feature-length adventure.
The streaming service has also extended its series agreement with Sesame Workshop. New seasons of Sesame Street will continue through Season 62, giving the programme a longer future on the platform.
Sesame Street Season 57 Volume 4 arrives on 23 November 2026. Volumes 5 and 6 will follow in 2027. Meanwhile, the licensed CGI animated series Mecha Builders joins Netflix on 26 October 2026.
Gabby’s Dollhouse grows with two new shows
Gabby’s sister Doozie moves into the spotlight in Doozie’s Doghouse. The mixed-media companion series premieres on 9 November 2026 and promises imaginative play, surprises and a cast of heroic canine characters.
A month later, Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers debuts on 9 December 2026. Laila Lockhart Kraner hosts in character as Gabby while young baker-and-maker duos tackle holiday-themed crafting and baking challenges.
Aidy Bryant, Justin Willman and Melissa Villaseñor will judge the four festive episodes. Further episodes are due in 2027.
Netflix says the first 13 seasons of Gabby’s Dollhouse have accumulated more than 670 million views since 2024. Season 14 recently reached number four on the Netflix Global Top 10 and made the Top 10 in 63 countries.
Puppy Pirates and more Bad Dinosaurs
Creator Matthew Fernandes is behind the new preschool series Puppy Pirates. It follows four heroic hounds sailing the high seas to recover everything from treasure to missing toys. A premiere date has not yet been confirmed.
Bad Dinosaurs has also been renewed for Seasons 2 and 3. Each season will contain eight episodes of prehistoric comedy and family chaos.
The first season spent five weeks in the Netflix Global Top 10. Since its 2024 debut, Netflix says it has recorded almost 55 million views.
Netflix Playground adds new games
Three new games are joining Netflix Playground. Numberblocks: Hide and Seek and KPop Demon Hunters: Ready, Set Shine are available from 29 September 2026. A new Trash Truck mobile game launches on 27 October 2026.
Netflix Playground is designed for children aged eight and under. It is included with every Netflix membership, contains no in-app purchases or extra fees and allows games to be played offline after they are downloaded.
The library brings together games connected to children’s favourites, including Peppa Pig and Sesame Street. Netflix says Playground has ranked among its 10 most-played mobile games every week since launch.
Lower-stimulation viewing and bedtime stories
Netflix has launched a low-stimulation collection for parents seeking programmes with slower pacing, softer visuals and simple, predictable stories. The collection includes Trash Truck, Puffin Rock and Llama Llama.
A new episode of Bedtime Stories with Netflix Jr. also features a story from The Creature Cases. Netflix says the series, which is informed by sleep science, has generated more than 19 million listens and listening hours across podcast platforms and Netflix Jr.
Netflix parental controls
The company is also highlighting the controls available to families. Parents can create individual kids profiles, choose maturity settings, block individual titles and protect adult profiles with a PIN.
Viewing history and activity tools allow parents to see what children have watched. Autoplay can also be switched off at any time.
Netflix says children’s and family viewing has generated 106 billion hours since the beginning of 2023. The expanded slate is intended to combine trusted characters with new programmes that encourage imagination, movement, curiosity and problem-solving.
For more TV Central Netflix news, head here. Explore children’s and family programming at Netflix Australia.