When does the new season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) start?
Saturday Night Live Returns for Season 51 on October 4 on Peacock and NBC
Fans of late-night comedy can mark their calendars: Saturday Night Live is back for Season 51, kicking off on Saturday, October 4, 2025, on NBC and Peacock. After celebrating a landmark 50th anniversary season, the long-running sketch show is ready to embark on what could be the next half-century of laughs.
It feels like Season 50 just wrapped, but the finale, hosted by Scarlett Johansson, aired on May 17, 2025. Johansson, starring in Jurassic World: Rebirth, co-starred in two sketches alongside Musical Guest Bad Bunny and became the most frequent female host in SNL history—a milestone amid an already eventful year.
Season 50 premiered on September 28, 2024, with host Jean Smart and Musical Guest Jelly Roll, introducing three new featured players: Jane Wickline, Emil Wakim, and Ashley Padilla. The milestone season also intersected with a high-profile election year, bringing back alums Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, and Andy Samberg, alongside comedian Jim Gaffigan, to portray Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Doug Emhoff, and Tim Walz in multiple memorable cold opens.
In February 2025, SNL hosted its largest-ever celebration, including a live concert and a three-hour special honoring the show’s rich history, with former cast members, hosts, and musical guests taking part.
Season 51 promises fresh energy, including changes in the writing room and a rotating roster of celebrity hosts. UK viewers can catch the series on Sky Comedy, and in 2026, a British version of SNL will debut on Sky MAX.
Be sure to tune in on October 4 for the start of a new era in Saturday Night Live.