Season 51 will conclude with former No. 3-rated all-time Saturday Night Live cast member Will Ferrell hosting the program on May 16, 2026.
This will mark the sixth hosting appearance by Ferrell, who was a cast member for Seasons 21 through 27. He is considered one of the giants of the many stars who have emerged in the history of SNL. Many rate some of his sketches as the greatest in the annals of the late night variety program.
Ferrell has proven to be a great host in his post-SNL years. His previous five episodes have been graded between A- and B by the experts here at SNL Rankings.
Ferrell’s sixth hosting appearance in Season 51 will break a tie with three others for the second-most by a former cast member. Only one former SNL cast member has hosted the show more than Ferrell, once he appears at home base to wrap up the current season.
This will mark the first return to Studio 8H for Ferrell as host since Season 45, when his musical guest was King Princess. That gap of six seasons is the longest since he started hosting in Season 30.
Most SNL Hosting Appearances by Former Cast Members
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| NAME | HOST COUNT | FIRST | MOST RECENT |
| Chevy Chase | 7* | Season 3 | Season 22 |
| Will Ferrell | 6 | Season 30 | Season 51 |
| Bill Murray | 5 | Season 6 | Season 24 |
| Tina Fey | 5** | Season 33 | Season 43 |
| Kristen Wiig | 5 | Season 38 | Season 49 |
| Dana Carvey | 4 | Season 20 | Season 36 |
| Chris Rock | 4 | Season 22 | Season 50 |
| Eddie Murphy | 3 | Season 8 | Season 45 |
| Martin Short | 3*** | Season 22 | Season 50 |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | 3 | Season 31 | Season 41 |
| Jimmy Fallon | 3 | Season 37 | Season 42 |
| Maya Rudolph | 3 | Season 37 | Season 49 |
| Catherine O’Hara | 2**** | Season 16 | Season 18 |
| Phil Hartman | 2 | Season 21 | Season 22 |
| David Spade | 2 | Season 24 | Season 30 |
| Tracy Morgan | 2 | Season 34 | Season 41 |
| Molly Shannon | 2 | Season 32 | Season 48 |
| Amy Poehler | 2***** | Season 36 | Season 51 |
| Shane Gillis | 2****** | Season 49 | Season 50 |
* Chase also had one appearance as co-host with Steve Martin and Martin Short
** Tina Fey also had one appearance as co-host with Amy Poehler
*** Martin Short also co-hosted with Chevy Chase and Steve Martin once
**** Catherine O’Hara was hired as cast member, but quit before she appeared in an episode
***** Amy Poehler also had one appearance as a co-host with Tina Fey
****** Shane Gillis was fired as cast member before he could appear on the show
