Elmo, Cookie Monster & More ‘Sesame Street’ Pals Headed to Italy for 2026 Olympics (and Cannolis!)

Elmo and Friends to Promote Olympic Spirit in Italy, Bring Cannolis and Chaos to Milan

In a surprise move, the popular children's show Sesame Street is bringing its lovable characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, and more to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The gang will be appearing on social media platforms throughout the Games, promoting NBCUniversal's coverage of the biennial event.

Elmo, who seems particularly excited about the trip, couldn't wait to attend the Olympics. "I'm very excited to come to Milan – that's in Italy!" he exclaimed. Meanwhile, Cookie Monster is more focused on his Italian culinary adventures, practicing curling with a giant chocolate chip and eyeing up cannoli as his top priority.

This partnership follows the success of Sesame Street characters Elmo and friends at last year's Summer Olympics in Paris, where they brought joy and excitement to young fans via hot air balloons. The team also appeared on various NBC shows, meeting Team USA athletes and sharing their experiences with audiences nationwide.

"Sesame Street has long been a source of joy and learning for families across the country," said Lyndsay Signor, senior VP of sports marketing at Universal Television Entertainment Group. "Bringing Elmo, Cookie Monster, and their friends to the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina adds a playful and heartwarming touch to our Olympic storytelling."

The inclusion of Sesame Street characters marks another unique partnership between NBCUniversal and children's entertainment brands, showcasing the brand's commitment to reaching young audiences.

omg this is so cool elmo and cookie monster going to milan for the olympics? that's like a dream come true for kids everywhere lol i think it's awesome they're bringing some fun and positivity to the games. the idea of them doing their own social media thing is genius, who doesn't love elmo's infectious energy? as long as they're not causing too much chaos in milan i'm all for it

OMG this is sooo cute ! I mean who doesn't love Elmo and friends? They're like the ultimate Olympic spirit squad ! And can we talk about Cookie Monster's love for cannoli? That giant chocolate chip curling thing is giving me LIFE ! This partnership is all about spreading joy and positivity, and honestly it just makes my heart happy . I'm so here for Elmo and friends bringing the fun to Milan and Cortina! Can't wait to see them on social media

this is so cool i mean who wouldn't want elmo and cookie monster at the olympics lol they're like the ultimate winter sports fans now imagine watching curling with a giant chocolate chip on the ice and elmo doing his thing in milan i wonder if they'll bring any of their famous songs to perform live for us? or maybe just some impromptu hugs and high-fives for all the kids cheering them on

I'm so done with this whole thing , like why do we need Elmo and friends at the Olympics in the first place? Can't we just focus on actual athletes for once? And what's up with Cookie Monster's priorities – eating all that cannoli is gonna be a real problem for him during those intense curling matches . I'm also super skeptical about how this partnership will 'add a playful and heartwarming touch' to the Olympics, it just seems like a bunch of kids running around in fancy outfits .

Can you imagine Elmo and friends competing for gold in curling ? I think it's awesome that they're promoting Olympic spirit, but omg those cannoli cravings are real Cookie Monster would totally win a medal for most creative snack idea . It's so cool that Sesame Street is bringing joy to young fans all over again - hot air balloons were such a great touch last year! I just wish we could see more of the Italian culture and traditions represented in the Olympics, but hey at least Elmo's excited about the food .

I'm not sure what's more adorable - Elmo's excitement about attending the Olympics or Cookie Monster's obsession with cannoli ! I think it's great that they're bringing some fun and playfulness to the Games, especially for the younger crowd. It's awesome that Sesame Street is partnering with NBCUniversal to promote Olympic spirit and values like friendship and kindness . And who knows, maybe Cookie Monster will become a curling sensation with his giant chocolate chip ! Let's just enjoy the fun and games, and not worry about the logistics (or cannoli-related chaos)

I'm loving this news ! Who would've thought that Elmo and friends would be hanging out in Milan during the Olympics? I mean, cannoli for Cookie Monster is a genius move lol. It's awesome that they're bringing some fun and playfulness to the Games. The hot air balloon thing at the Summer Olympics was already so cool, but this is just on another level . I'm sure the kids in Italy will have a blast with these lovable characters promoting Olympic spirit. Can't wait to see how it all plays out!

omg this is so cool can u imagine elmo trying to do figure skating in those silly moccasins ️ i wonder if they'll have any fun challenges or games for the kids in milan

OMG u guys I'm telling u, this is NOT just about spreading joy 2 kids & promoting the Olympics... Elmo & friends r gonna b brainwashed 2 love curling & cannoli lol But seriously, what's really goin' on here? Is NBCUniversal tryin' 2 reach a younger demographic & sell more ad space? Or maybe they're hidin' somethin'? Like, what's the REAL reason behind this partnership? I don't buy it when they say Sesame Street is just about "joy & learning"... something fishy's goin' on, mark my words!

It's not easy being green... but who cares when you can rock the Olympics with Elmo? The power of kids' entertainment can bring people together like nothing else!

so this is what we gotta do to get kids excited about the Olympics? bring in a bunch of cartoon characters i mean, i'm all for fun and games but can't they just focus on promoting the actual athletes instead of giving them a free pass because it's cute? also, curling with a giant chocolate chip is just weird and what's with the cannoli obsession? aren't those just for breakfast or something? and lastly, shouldn't we be worried about the logistics of bringing in like 10 characters to the Olympics and how that's gonna work out? i'm not buying it without seeing some serious behind-the-scenes info

I don’t usually comment but... I mean, who wouldn't want Elmo and Cookie Monster at the Olympics? I love how they're bringing some much-needed fun and whimsy to the Games. It's great that NBCUniversal is using Sesame Street characters to promote Olympic spirit and reach a younger audience. The idea of Cookie Monster practicing curling with a giant chocolate chip has me dying laughing , but in a good way! Maybe they can even have a pasta-making competition or something?

man, I'm all for Elmo and the gang spreading some joy at the Olympics but come on, can't they just bring their cute faces without the chaos ? like, I love a good cannoli as much as the next guy, but 8-foot-tall Cookie Monster playing curling with a chocolate chip is just... . and what's up with Elmo being super hyped about Milan being in Italy? I mean, it's cool that he's excited, but like, dude, you're an Muppet from Sesame Street – you don't need to be all about the geography lesson . still, I guess it's awesome that they're bringing some fun and positivity to the Games

I'm loving this news ! Who wouldn't want Elmo and his crew spreading joy at the Olympics? They're already making me laugh with Cookie Monster's obsession with cannoli - I mean, can you blame him?! And it's so cool that they're bringing their fun energy to Milan and Cortina. It's not every day you see kids' show characters hanging out with Olympic athletes . I'm excited to see how the kids are going to react on social media when these guys start popping up everywhere! The partnership is just a win-win for everyone involved - it's going to be a blast to watch