Elmo, Cookie Monster and Other “Sesame Street” Friends Head to Italy for the 2026 Olympics — and Cannolis!

Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and other beloved Sesame Street characters will be traveling to Italy to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, joining NBCUniversal’s coverage and promotional efforts surrounding the Games.

Announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, the collaboration will place the Muppet favorites at the center of social media activations on Sesame Street’s channels and across NBCUniversal’s broadcast and digital platforms in the lead-up to and during the competition season.

“Elmo is thrilled to visit Milan — it’s in Italy!” Elmo said in a statement. “Elmo can’t wait to cheer for all the athletes at the Olympics. Elmo’s mommy is knitting him a special red, white and blue hat. Yeah, baby!”

Cookie Monster added with characteristic enthusiasm that he’s been preparing in his own way: “Me been practicing curling with a giant chocolate chippie! Me looking forward to trying many delicious Italian treats. Cannoli, me got me eye on you!”

This initiative follows the characters’ successful partnership with NBCUniversal during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, when Elmo and his friends appeared in playful illustrations and segments that ran on TODAY, Access Hollywood and NBC Nightly News for Kids, and were featured across the Sesame Street and NBC Olympics social feeds.

During the Summer Games, the Sesame Street gang also took part in daytime programming for NBC Sports, meeting Team USA athletes and sharing their Olympic experiences with families and young viewers.

“Sesame Street has long brought joy and meaningful learning to families everywhere,” said Lyndsay Signor, senior vice president of sports marketing for Universal Television Entertainment Group. “Welcoming Elmo, Cookie Monster and their friends to the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina — after a successful run in Paris — adds warmth and whimsy to our Olympic storytelling.”

“Their universal appeal aligns perfectly with the global spirit of the Olympics,” she added. “And Cookie Monster — we’ve got a fresh batch of biscotti waiting for you!”

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