SNL Season 52 Premiere Guide: New Cast, Host, Musical Guest & Departures
Saturday Night Live Season 52 is almost here, and the new season brings two new featured players, several roster changes and a first-time host in NBA champion Jalen Brunson.
The long-running NBC sketch-comedy series returns on September 26, 2026, with Brunson hosting the season premiere and KATSEYE making its SNL debut as the musical guest.
SNL Season 52 starts September 26 with Jalen Brunson hosting and KATSEYE performing. Grace Reiter and Saidah Belo-Osagie are joining as featured players, while Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy are out and Bowen Yang had already departed during Season 51.
When Does SNL Season 52 Start?
SNL Season 52 premieres Saturday, September 26, 2026. The show will return to its regular Saturday-night schedule on NBC, with new episodes also available through Peacock.
The premiere is set to begin a new season after the show's summer break. The Season 52 opener will feature Jalen Brunson as host and KATSEYE as musical guest.
Who Is Hosting the SNL Season 52 Premiere?
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson will host the Season 52 premiere for the first time.
Brunson enters Studio 8H after a major year with the Knicks. NBC announced that he was named MVP of the 2026 NBA Finals after New York won its first championship in 53 years.
That makes Brunson's SNL debut a crossover moment between the NBA and one of television's longest-running sketch-comedy franchises.
Who Is the Musical Guest?
KATSEYE will make its SNL debut as the musical guest on September 26.
The global girl group arrives on the show after releasing its third EP, WILD, and embarking on its WILDWORLD tour.
Who Are the New SNL Season 52 Cast Members?
SNL has added Grace Reiter and Saidah Belo-Osagie as featured players for Season 52.
Reiter is a comedian, writer, director and performer from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her work includes online comedy and parody projects, the upcoming series Minimum Wage, and an appearance in HBO's The Chair Company.
Belo-Osagie is a Queens-based comedian, actor, writer and filmmaker. Her previous work includes the short film Tinge, the event series Afrobeats Futura and her solo show Saidah Gets Closure.
Grace Reiter: From Online Sketches to SNL
Grace Reiter brings a background that fits naturally into the modern SNL comedy pipeline: short-form online sketches, character work, writing and performance.
Before joining SNL, Reiter built an audience through comedy content online and worked with American High's digital sketch-comedy projects. Her credits have expanded into television and film, including The Chair Company and the upcoming comedy series Minimum Wage.
Her SNL casting also represents the continued movement of internet-first comedians into traditional television comedy.
Saidah Belo-Osagie: Character Comedy and Live Performance
Saidah Belo-Osagie comes to SNL with experience across live comedy, writing, directing and character-driven performance.
She created Saidah Gets Closure, a solo comedy show, and has also been associated with Afrobeats Futura. Her short film Tinge adds filmmaking to her background.
Belo-Osagie's arrival also marks the return of a Black woman to the SNL cast following Ego Nwodim's departure before Season 51.
Which SNL Cast Members Left Before Season 52?
Season 52 follows several important cast changes.
| Cast Member | Season 52 Status | What Changed |
|---|---|---|
| Chloe Fineman | Departed | Leaves after seven seasons. |
| Martin Herlihy | Departed | Leaves after four seasons as a cast member. |
| Bowen Yang | Departed earlier | Exited midway through Season 51. |
| Ego Nwodim | Departed before Season 51 | Her exit created an opening in the ensemble that continued into the following season. |
Who Is Returning for SNL Season 52?
The Season 52 ensemble still features a large group of familiar SNL performers.
Returning names include Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Andrew Dismukes, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, Ben Marshall, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Tommy Brennan and Veronika Slowikowska.
Kenan Thompson is also entering his record-setting 24th season with the series.
Which SNL Cast Members Were Promoted?
Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline have been promoted to repertory players for Season 52 after joining the show at the start of Season 50.
Meanwhile, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska continue as featured players alongside the two new additions.
SNL Season 52 Cast List
Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, Ashley Padilla, James Austin Johnson, Andrew Dismukes and Jane Wickline.
Ben Marshall, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Tommy Brennan, Veronika Slowikowska, Grace Reiter and Saidah Belo-Osagie.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Jalen Brunson hosts Saturday Night Live with KATSEYE as the musical guest.
What Is the SNL Season 52 Host Lineup?
NBC has already announced several hosts and musical guests for the opening stretch of Season 52.
| Date | Host | Musical Guest |
|---|---|---|
| September 26 | Jalen Brunson | KATSEYE |
| October 3 | Dakota Johnson | Turnstile |
| October 10 | Shane Gillis | Rosalía |
| October 31 | Inde Navarrette | Gracie Abrams |
The October 31 episode will serve as the Halloween episode, with Inde Navarrette making her SNL hosting debut and Gracie Abrams returning as musical guest.
Where to Watch SNL Season 52
New episodes of Saturday Night Live air live on NBC and are available to stream through Peacock. Episodes are also available on demand after their live broadcasts.
The regular live broadcast time is 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on Saturdays.
Why the Season 52 Cast Changes Matter
Season 52 represents a combination of continuity and turnover. Several long-running performers remain in place, while Reiter and Belo-Osagie bring new voices into the featured-player group.
The changes also follow a period of significant movement around the ensemble, including Bowen Yang's mid-season exit during Season 51 and the departures of Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy before Season 52.
For viewers, the September 26 premiere will provide the first full look at how the returning cast and newcomers fit together in the new season.
SNL Season 52 Premiere FAQ
When does SNL Season 52 premiere?
SNL Season 52 premieres on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Who is hosting the SNL Season 52 premiere?
NBA champion Jalen Brunson is hosting the Season 52 premiere for the first time.
Who is the musical guest on the SNL premiere?
KATSEYE is the musical guest for the September 26 premiere.
Who are the new SNL Season 52 cast members?
Grace Reiter and Saidah Belo-Osagie have joined SNL as featured players.
Who left SNL before Season 52?
Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy departed ahead of Season 52, while Bowen Yang left midway through Season 51.
Who was promoted for SNL Season 52?
Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline have been promoted to repertory players.
Where can I watch SNL Season 52?
SNL airs live on NBC and is available to stream through Peacock, with episodes also available on demand.