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.
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.
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 
! 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 
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 
, 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 
.
Can you imagine Elmo and friends competing for gold in curling 
. 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 
! Let's just enjoy the fun and games, and not worry about the logistics (or cannoli-related chaos) 
! 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 wonder if they'll have any fun challenges or games for the kids in milan 
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! 
. 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