We've been talking about it for months, but now the time has finally come. Saturday Night Live season 51 will be premiering on NBC very soon, and the excitement is palpable. Fans can expect another season packed with laugh-out-loud sketches, surprise celebrity cameos, and musical performances that’ll have you hitting repeat.
With its premiere quickly approaching, we wanted to give you the ultimate guide to everything you need to know about the new season. From the premiere date and the full cast lineup to the hosts, musical guests, and all the insider details, here's everything you need to get ready for what will surely be another great season.
When does Saturday Night Live return?
Given that a brand-new season of Saturday Night Live usually premieres in September or October of every year, it doesn't come as a surprise that the fifty-first season is set to start airing this October. The exact premiere date is Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC. The premiere episode will also be available to stream on Peacock the next day, in case you miss it for any reason.
When is Saturday Night Live on?
Okay, so you know when Saturday Night Live season 51 debuts on NBC. But when can you expect new episodes to air following the premiere? Well, that would be every Saturday night at the same exact time until the season finale. So that's on Saturday at 11:30/10:30c. It's currently unknown how many episodes make up the new season, but there's a chance of there being 20 again like seasons 50 and 49. There could even be more, but we'll have to get back to you with this juicy information once it's revealed.
Like the premiere, the following episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the day after they air on NBC. However, it's worth noting that you'll need to be subscribed to the streaming service in order to gain access.
Where can you catch up on Saturday Night Live?
Perhaps you missed the last season or need something to do in the meantime while waiting for Saturday Night Live season 51. Then we highly recommend heading over to Peacock. That's where Saturday Night Live season 50 and previous installments are available to stream. No, you didn't read that wrong. All 50 seasons of the popular sketch comedy show are streaming on Peacock. Again, you just need to have a subscription, and you’ll have instant access to decades of iconic sketches.
Is anyone leaving Saturday Night Live after season 50?
Unfortunately, yes. The upcoming Saturday Night Live season 51 saw a major cast shakeup. There are a total of 17 cast members this season, but some comedians have either been fired or left the sketch comedy series ahead of season 51. They are Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim.
Walker joined Saturday Night Live back in 2022 during the show’s forty-eighth season, the same season Longfellow came on board. Wakim had joined the cast more recently in season 50, while Gardner had been part of the cast since season 43 and Nwodim since season 44, making them two of the longer-standing members.
Who is in the Saturday Night Live season 51 cast?
So, what about those returning? Well, you can expect to see Michael Che and Colin Jost return as the co-anchors of the Weekend Update segment. Other returning cast members include Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline.
But remember, there are 17 cast members in Saturday Night Live season 51, and those we've just listed only make up part of the ensemble. A few new faces are joining the lineup this season, such as Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.
Who is hosting Saturday Night Live season 51?
Now that we know who's in the cast for season 51, let's talk about who's set to take the stage for hosting duties. As of Sept. 29, the entire hosting lineup has not been revealed. However, we do know who the hosts will be for the first three episodes of the season.
Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer Bad Bunny will host the premiere episode on Oct. 4. This will be his second time hosting, as he previously hosted an episode of season 49. Up next is actress and comedian Amy Poehler, who will be hosting the Oct. 11 episode. Those who faithfully watch Saturday Night Live would know that she is a longtime alum of the show. In the past, she's hosted once solo during season 36 and returned to co-host with fellow alum Tina Fey in season 41.
Last but not least is another Grammy Award-winning artist, Sabrina Carpenter. She is set to host the Oct. 18 episode of Saturday Night Live season 51, marking her first time as host of the sketch comedy show.
Who are the musical guests for Saturday Night Live season 51?
Who's taking the stage to perform in the fifty-first season? We don't have the names of all the musical guests for the new installment, but we do know who will kick things off for the first few episodes. Doja Cat, who many recognize as one of today’s biggest pop and rap superstars, will be the featured musical guest for the Oct. 4 episode hosted by Bad Bunny. She has never served as a musical guest on the show ever, so this will mark her highly anticipated SNL debut and an exciting start to the new season.
Then, there's singer-songwriter and former rapper, Role Model, who is confirmed to perform as the musical guest for the Oct. 11 episode hosted by Amy Poehler. Carpenter, who will be hosting the Oct. 18 episode, is also set to pull double duty as both host and musical guest on that day.
We can't wait to see how Saturday Night Live raises the bar in season 51. It'll be interesting to see how things go with the new cast members, but we have high hopes that they'll deliver bold, hilarious sketches along with returning favorites. With exciting hosts and musical guests, everyone should be tuned in to the Saturday Night Live season 51 premiere on NBC on Oct. 4. We'll definitely be watching every week!