Saturday Night Live will open Season 51 with a star-studded trio of hosts as NBC’s long-running sketch show moves forward after a major cast shake-up.
Bad Bunny will host the Oct. 4 premiere, with Doja Cat serving as the musical guest. The following week, Oct. 11, will feature Amy Poehler as host, with Role Model as the musical guest. On Oct. 18, Sabrina Carpenter will pull double duty, hosting the third episode of the season and performing as the musical guest.
The season arrives amid a broad reshaping of the cast, after a wave of departures and new arrivals was teased earlier this month. The show’s ensemble for 51 features a mix of longtime players returning to Studio 8H and a slate of newer faces ready to step into the spotlight. Returning cast members include Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Sarah Sherman, James Austin Johnson, Marcello Hernandez, Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline. By contrast, several regulars will not be back for Season 51: Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim have all exited or announced their departures. Walker, 34, confirmed the exit as a mutual decision with NBC, while Wakim, 27, Longfellow, 31, Gardner, 42, and Nwodim, 37, have each described stepping away as the right move for their careers. Nwodim was the last to announce her departure, in September. The exits come as Lorne Michaels, now 80, had warned that a cast shakeup was coming before the season was announced.
In addition to the core vets, Season 51 will introduce new comedians to the SNL stage: Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. The departures and additions come as producers look to refresh a show that has long served as a launchpad for both established stars and rising talents. Carpenter’s return to the host chair marks a notable moment for a performer who had previously appeared as the Season 49 musical guest in May 2024, while Poehler—an alum of Parks and Recreation—adds another high-profile return for a 51st season that is aiming to start strong.
SNL’s Season 50 finale in May 2025 showcased the show’s evolving cast, with several veterans having stepped away in the wake of the season’s end. The new lineup for Season 51 reflects a deliberate balance of familiar faces and fresh talent, as NBC and executive producer Lorne Michaels push to maintain the show’s signature mix of topical humor and musical performances.
Season 51 premieres Oct. 4 on NBC, with a slate of hosts and guests designed to re-energize the series after a notably transformative period for the cast and crew. The show’s producers have underscored that the shakeup was planned and essential to keeping SNL’s long-running format fresh for new generations of viewers.