What better way to celebrate the holidays than with your friends on Sesame Street? That’s right, Elmo is back for a 30-minute Christmas special, with a bit of help from YouTube star and NASA-trained engineer Mark Rober.
In Elmo & Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas, the two work together to make presents for a gift exchange — while learning about science and the importance of friends during the holiday season. (Thankfully, Cookie Monster has already made it very clear what he wants under his tree this year.) The special premieres Dec. 8 with three new original songs — “Merry Giftmas,” “Failure is Awesome,” and “The Best Christmas Gift is You.”
“Teaming up with Elmo and the Sesame Street Muppets is pretty much a childhood dream come true and while viewers might not make a snowball-throwing robot exactly like Abby and me, it’s proof that with a little imagination and creativity, you could make anything you can dream up,” says Rober.
“At Sesame Street, we love teaming up with like-minded partners to spark curiosity and inspire playful learning,” adds Kay Wilson Stallings, Executive Vice President, Chief Creative Development & Production Officer, Sesame Workshop. “Collaborating with NASA-trained engineer Mark Rober, Elmo and friends explore relatable science concepts in a festive Netflix holiday special, making an unforgettable experience for the whole family.”
Craving more? The new season of Sesame Street is now streaming on Netflix, with celebrity guests and fan-favorite segments like Elmo’s World. Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs, which highlights the engineer’s viral science and DIY videos, is available to watch now, and his new competition show will debut in 2026.
Check back here for more updates as we get closer to the premiere of Elmo & Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas.
