Why “SNL” isn't new tonight and when it will be back with new episodes
- - Why “SNL” isn't new tonight and when it will be back with new episodes
Jillian SederholmDecember 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
0
Will Heath/NBC via Getty
Host and musical guest Sabrina Carpenter during 'SNL' goodnights Oct. 18, 2025
The lights are off at Studio 8H while Saturday Night Live is on winter hiatus.
As the cast and crew enjoys some time off for the holidays, fans can catch up on season 51 as the legendary NBC sketch show airs repeats of earlier episodes before returning in the new year.
The network previously announced that tonight's show will be a repeat of Sabrina Carpenter's Oct. 18 episode in which the "Manchild" songstress did double duty as host and musical guest. Then, the first Saturday of January will be a rerun of the Nov. 1 episode hosted by Miles Teller with musical guest Brandi Carlile. Jan. 10 will also be a repeat.
Mike Coppola/Getty
Finn Wolfhard attends PaleyLive's 'Stranger Things' final season celebration on Dec. 18, 2025
The first new episode of 2026 takes place on Saturday, Jan. 17, with Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard — who also appeared in Jason Reitman's SNL biopic Saturday Night — making his hosting debut joined by A$AP Rocky doing musical duties.
SNL closed out 2025 with a bang on Dec. 20 in an episode fronted by Wicked: For Good star Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher, who returned to perform song duties for the first time since her SNL debut in 1987.
The episode also turned out to be the final appearance of Bowen Yang in the middle of his seventh season on the cast. The comedian made a tear-filled goodbye, embraced by his close friend and Wicked costar Grande and Cher, whom he's often called his SNL dream guest.
Saturday Night Live/YouTube
Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang, and Cher on 'Saturday Night Live' on Dec. 20, 2025
December also featured new episodes fronted by Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery star Josh O’Connor with musical guest Lily Allen, and fan-favorite Melissa McCarthy hosting for her sixth time joined by musical guest Dijon.
Season 51 kicked off on Oct. 4 with host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat. It also saw the addition of five new featured players — Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska — following the exits of cast members Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker.
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
Other episodes this season have been fronted by SNL alum Amy Poehler joined by musical guest Role Model, plus cameos from former SNL costars Tina Fey and Seth Meyers; comedian Nikki Glaser with singer Sombr; and The Running Man star Glen Powell with songstress Olivia Dean.
Will Heath/NBC
Charli XCX, Role Model, Seth Meyers, and the 'SNL' cast during goodnights on Oct. 11, 2025
After the sketch show returns with new episodes in January, it is expected to go on another break while NBC airs the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics from Friday, Feb. 6, to Sunday, Feb. 22.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
