As summer continues, fans of the long-running sketch comedy show are asking a familiar question: Is Saturday Night Live new tonight? The answer is no. The cast and crew of Studio 8H are currently on their annual summer hiatus, with new episodes not scheduled to return for a couple of months.
The iconic show concluded its landmark 50th season on May 17, 2025, with an episode hosted by Scarlett Johansson and featuring musical guest Bad Bunny. According to NBC, SNL will make its highly anticipated return for Season 51 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at its usual time of 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT. The premiere, along with the entire season, will air live on NBC and be available for streaming on Peacock.
While there are no new episodes, NBC is airing a repeat from Season 50 on August 2, 2025. Viewers can catch the May 3, 2025 episode hosted by Quinta Brunson with musical guest Benson Boone. The episode featured several memorable sketches, including a commercial parody for “OnlySeniors,” a time-traveling adventure, and a song about the perks of being short featuring a cameo from Sabrina Carpenter. Boone also impressed audiences with a backflip during his performance.
The break follows a triumphant 50th season that has garnered significant awards recognition. The show recently received an impressive 30 Emmy nominations for 2025, spanning its regular season and its widely celebrated 50th-anniversary specials. These nominations include a nod for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series, continuing its reign as the most Emmy-nominated show in history with a staggering 338 total nominations and 90 wins over its five decades on air. Cast member Bowen Yang was also recognized for his work.
A significant portion of the acclaim was directed at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special. Adam Sandler earned a nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for his heartfelt and humorous song “50 Years,” which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Dan Bulla. The special itself was recognized across multiple categories, including writing, directing, and various technical fields. Fans can relive the anniversary specials and stream sketches from every season on Peacock.
As the countdown to Season 51 begins, speculation is mounting about the cast lineup and who will be the first host and musical guest. For Season 50, the show promoted Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker to repertory players and introduced new featured players Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline. The cast entered the season following the departures of Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney, and Chloe Troast. While no official announcements have been made, longtime cast member Kenan Thompson has hinted at potential changes for the upcoming season. For fans hoping to see the show live, the annual ticket lottery for Season 51 is currently open for entries throughout August.
Until the lights go up in Studio 8H on October 4, viewers can continue to enjoy classic episodes and await news on what the next chapter of the legendary comedy institution will bring.
