Is SNL New Tonight (September 19, 2026)? Host, Musical Guest, How To Watch
"Saturday Night Live" is, for better and for worse, an American institution. The long-running sketch show, which began its existence in 1975 and has remained under the control of Lorne Michaels ever since, is an incubator for talent, a showcase for sketch comedians and writers, and a bellwether of the country's political and cultural mood at any given moment. These days, people like Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler are long gone, save for guest hosting; instead, veteran cast member Kenan Thompson has been holding down the fort for years and is joined by new and established talents like Mikey Day, Ashley Padilla, Sarah Sherman, Jeremy Culhane, and James Austin Johnson (the last of whom provides this SNL cycle's impersonation of the sitting president).
So is "Saturday Night Live" airing on Saturday, September 19? Here's everything you need to know.
Is there a new episode of SNL tonight?
There is not a new episode of "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday, September 19 — so stay out as late as you want without worrying that you'll miss the opening monologue. Season 52 of "Saturday Night Live" is imminent, though, and Season 51 ended with an episode hosted by veteran and comedy legend Will Ferrell. Both Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman also left the series; Yang left after the Christmas show hosted by his "Wicked" co-star and real-life friend Ariana Grande, and Fineman's departure was announced in July of 2026.
When does SNL return?
The Season 52 premiere of "Saturday Night Live" is set to air on Saturday, September 26, so give the writers another week to get all their sketches together.
Who is the SNL host and musical guest for the next live show?
During the Season 52 premiere of "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday, September 26, New York Knicks point guard and recently crowned NBA championship winner Jalen Brunson will serve as the evening's host. Global girl group sensation Katseye will be featured as the musical guests. A few of the hosts and musical acts have been announced for Season 52 and so far, the list includes Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis, and breakout "Obsession" star Inde Navarette in the former category and Turnstile, Rosalía, and Gracie Abrams in the latter.
What time does SNL start?
"Saturday Night Live" will start on Saturday, September 26 featuring Jalen Brunson and Katseye at the same time it always has: 11:30 p.m. EST. The show runs, with commercials, for about 90 minutes. Consider making an espresso if you're staying up for the whole thing.
Where can I watch SNL?
You can watch "Saturday Night Live" on NBC if you have cable or something like Sling or YouTube TV — and you can also stream it at 11:30 p.m. with Peacock Premium Plus. If you prefer to pair your sketch comedy with some morning coffee, it streams on Peacock the following day.
Are there new cast members joining Saturday Night Live in Season 52?
On September 16, 2026 — ten days before the Season 52 premiere of "Saturday Night Live" — outlets like The New York Times reported that two new cast members will join this season as featured players. So what do you need to know about them?
Saidah Belo-Osagie is a born and raised New Yorker, having grown up in Queens, and worked on shows like the well-regarded Netflix miniseries "When They See Us," ABC's drama "For Life," and another Netflix show, "Kaleidoscope." After creating the Afrobeats Futura series of events and helming her own short film "Tinge" in 2020, Belo-Osagie worked on comedy projects like the online series "Are You Okay?"
Grace Reiter is the second and last cast member announced for Season 52 of "Saturday Night Live." Reiter became a sensation on YouTube and TikTok for her comedy videos and appeared in the offbeat HBO comedy series "The Chair Company." She also makes comedy music under the name Tate McRib, a play on Tate McRae and, well, the fast food delicacy the McRib.
Enjoy the return of "Saturday Night Live" on September 26 — and for now, take a night off.