‘Saturday Night Live’ kicks off its 52nd season with Jalen Brunson and Dakota Johnson among the announced hosts, promising a star-studded lineup.
‘Saturday Night Live’ is gearing up for its 52nd season, and as announced by Variety on September 9, 2026, the show will kick off with Jalen Brunson as the host for the premiere episode. Scheduled to air on September 26, this marks a significant moment as Brunson, who recently led the New York Knicks to their first NBA Championship in 53 years, steps into the role. The musical guest for this highly anticipated episode will be K-pop group Katseye, both making their debut on the iconic sketch show.
Following Brunson, Dakota Johnson will take the helm on October 3. This will be Johnson's third appearance on the show, coinciding with the release of her film Verity in theaters just a day earlier. The musical act for this episode will be hardcore rock band Turnstile, who are also making their first appearance on ‘SNL’ during their Never Enough Tour Pt. 2.
October is shaping up to be an exciting month for ‘SNL’. On October 10, Shane Gillis will return as host for his third time, alongside acclaimed artist Rosalía, who will serve as the musical guest. Gillis recently made headlines by breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest stand-up audience this past summer and has been engaged with fans through his Netflix show, Tires.
Inde Navarette, emerging star from the horror film Obsession, is set to host the Halloween episode on October 31, with Gracie Abrams as the featured musical guest. Abrams, who is expected to bring her signature sound back to ‘SNL’, has recently released her album Daughter From Hell earlier this year, marking her second appearance on the show.
The upcoming season will also see some changes behind the scenes. Prominent cast member Chloe Fineman has departed after a notable seven seasons. Additionally, Martin Herlihy has exited after contributing both in front of the camera as part of Please Don't Destroy and writing during Season 51.
Despite the offseason being relatively quiet, these confirmed announcements are laying out a promising season ahead. Season 51 featured a diverse lineup, including notable hosts like Will Ferrell, Bad Bunny, and Matt Damon, making it exciting to see how Season 52 will build on this tradition.
With such a dynamic roster of hosts lined up, fans can expect a fresh and captivating season of ‘Saturday Night Live’. The premieres on September 26 and October 3 are particularly noteworthy, with both Brunson and Johnson promising to bring their unique styles to the show. The addition of diverse musical guests further contributes to the anticipation, suggesting that ‘SNL’ aims to engage a wide range of audiences this upcoming season.
These planned episodes have the potential to attract both basketball enthusiasts and film fans alike, bridging various entertainment sectors right from the season’s onset. As updates continue to roll in, viewers can look forward to more announcements that will define Season 52 of SNL.
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