Fans will get their next dose of Saturday Night Live earlier than expected: the long-running NBC program will return for Season 52 on September 26, 2026, according to exclusive reporting by Late Nighter. That marks the earliest debut by SNL since Season 38 in 2012.
With that reported date as the premier episode of Season 52, SNL’s first half season schedule can sort of be mapped out:
Predicted Schedule for SNL Season 52 First Half
- September 26: Episode 1, Premier Episode
- October 3: Episode 2
- October 10: Episode 3
- October 17: OFF
- October 24: OFF
- October 31: Episode 4, Halloween Episode
- November 7: Episode 5
- November 14: Episode 6
- November 21: OFF
- November 28: OFF
- December 5: Episode 7
- December 12: Episode 8
- December 19: Episode 9, Christmas Episode
In Season 51, the show only had a one-week break between Episode 3 and Episode 4, but that may change considering the earlier start for Season 52.
The upcoming season may signal a massive shift in Studio 8H. This will be the first season in years to debut without a veteran star like Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, or Heidi Gardner in the cast. Instead, SNL is transitioning toward Ashley Padilla and Jeremy Culhane, two exciting performers with much experience in improv and sketch before joining the cast. Both will likely become repertory players for Season 52.
In addition, longtime cast member and master impressionist Chloe Fineman will not be back for Season 52. She announced her departure this summer after landing a role in a television drama/comedy series.
SNL will certainly add new featured players for the 2026-27 Season 52. Last year it brought in five performers: Culhane, Tommy Brennan, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Kyle J. Mooney Award winner Veronika Slowikowska. Only those featured players who had prior experience with sketch, improv, or character-based humor (Culhane and Slowikowska) folded well into SNL and had big moments.
The show is expected to seek diversity for a cast that is far too white and too male. If not for humor sake, at least for the ability to represent different characters and cultures on screen. Weekend Update anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost appear to be in line to return to extend the longest-running duo behind that desk. Some viewers are champing at the bit to see new points of view from that segment of Saturday Night Live.
