Elmo and Mark Rober celebrate Merry Giftmas as Netflix announces the global debut of the family-friendly holiday special featuring new songs, inventive gift-making, and Sesame Street favorites teaming up with the former NASA engineer.
Netflix is officially ringing in the holiday season with Elmo & Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas, a brand-new festive special set to debut globally on December 8. Designed as a joyful watch for families around the world, the special brings together beloved Sesame Street characters and the inventive mind of YouTube star and former NASA engineer Mark Rober for a celebration packed with creativity, collaboration, and plenty of surprises.
Set on Sesame Street during the height of its seasonal cheer, Merry Giftmas features three original songs created especially for the occasion: “Merry Giftmas,” “Failure is Awesome,” and “The Best Christmas Gift is You.” Each tune adds heart and humor to the story as Elmo and his friends prepare for a special gift exchange unlike any other.
According to the official logline, Elmo and the gang team up with Rober to engineer imaginative presents for their Merry Giftmas celebration. Together, they explore playful problem-solving and science-driven creativity — all within a 30-minute special that blends festive fun with hands-on learning.
The project is led by executive producers Scott Lewers, Sal Perez, Mark Rober, and Kay Wilson Stallings, with writing by Halcyon Person. It comes from production companies Sesame Workshop and CrunchLabs, and was filmed across New York and California.
The special arrives at a busy time for both franchises. The new season of Sesame Street is already streaming on Netflix, while Mark Rober’s upcoming competition show is set to debut in 2026. Fans can also check out Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs, a seven-episode season on Netflix featuring a curated collection of his viral science and DIY projects.
Sesame Workshop’s Kay Wilson Stallings expressed the show’s mission, saying, “At Sesame Street, we love teaming up with like-minded partners to spark curiosity and inspire playful learning. 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.”
Rober echoed the excitement, adding, “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.”
With heartwarming messages, clever builds, and classic Sesame Street magic, Elmo & Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas is set to become a new family holiday tradition.
