Wall Street doesn't just end at 4:00 PM anymore. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time watching the ticker tape, you know the real drama often starts the second the gavel hits. That’s why the faces of the closing bell CNBC anchors matter so much to people trying to protect their portfolios. They aren't just reading teleprompters; they’re the ones translating the chaos of a 500-point swing into something that actually makes sense for your 401(k).
But things are shifting. If you tuned in this week and noticed the chairs looked a little different, you aren't crazy.
CNBC just kicked off a massive reshuffle in January 2026. It’s one of those "musical chairs" moments that happens in cable news every few years when ratings get tight or they want to refresh the energy.
The Scott Wapner Era at 3:00 PM
Right now, Scott Wapner is the definitive king of the 3:00 PM ET hour. He’s been the solo anchor of the flagship Closing Bell since he moved over from the Halftime Report back in 2023. If you like your market news with a side of "Judge" energy—Wapner’s nickname from his legendary debates—he’s your guy.
Wapner basically lives at the New York Stock Exchange. While other shows might broadcast from the sleek, quiet studios in Englewood Cliffs, Scott is usually right in the thick of the noise at Post 9.
He’s famous for not letting CEOs off the hook. You’ve probably seen the clips of him pushing back on Carl Icahn or Bill Ackman. In the final hour of trading, that kind of aggression is actually useful. It cuts through the corporate jargon when a stock is cratering in real-time.
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The Big 2026 Shakeup: Overtime Gets a Facelift
This is where it gets interesting—and a little confusing if you haven't checked the schedule lately.
For the last couple of years, Morgan Brennan and Jon Fortt were the duo handling Closing Bell: Overtime at 4:00 PM. They were the "after-hours" crew, catching the big earnings beats from Apple or Nvidia the second they crossed the wire.
Well, as of January 20, 2026, that team is officially no more.
Enter Melissa Lee and Michael Santoli
Starting right now, the new closing bell CNBC anchors for the Overtime hour are Melissa Lee and Michael Santoli.
- Melissa Lee: Most people know her as the host of Fast Money. She’s arguably the most versatile person at the network. She brings a certain "trader" mentality to the 4 PM hour that feels a bit more urgent.
- Michael Santoli: He’s the "Smartest Guy in the Room" archetype. Santoli has been the Senior Markets Correspondent for years, and his "Market Notes" are basically mandatory reading for institutional traders.
Basically, CNBC is leaning into a "hard markets" approach for the after-hours show. They want to compete more aggressively with Fox Business, which has been eating their lunch in certain time slots lately.
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What happened to Morgan Brennan?
Don't worry, Morgan didn't go anywhere. She actually got a promotion of sorts, though the hours are brutal. Starting January 26, 2026, she is taking over the 5:00 AM ET hour. It’s her own solo show designed to set the tone for the global trading day. If you’re an early riser, you’ll see her before the sun comes up.
Jon Fortt is also moving on to host a new program focused on tech leadership. It's still in the works, but expect it to be a deep dive into the Silicon Valley C-suite.
Why the "Closing Bell" Host Seat Is So Prestigious
You might wonder why people care so much about who sits in these chairs. It’s about the "Bartiromo Legacy."
Maria Bartiromo was the original anchor of Closing Bell back in 2002. She was the first person to broadcast live from the floor of the NYSE. For over a decade, she was the face of the market close. When she left for Fox in 2013, it left a massive power vacuum that took years to stabilize.
Since then, we've seen a revolving door of heavy hitters:
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- Kelly Evans: Often called the "Silver Fox" of CNBC, she brought a very analytical, almost academic vibe to the close before moving to The Exchange.
- Sara Eisen: She co-anchored with Wilfred Frost for years. Sara is now back on Squawk on the Street, which many people feel is her natural home.
- Wilfred Frost: The son of the legendary David Frost. He brought a British, global-macro perspective that worked well during the volatile Brexit and COVID years. He’s now back in the UK with Sky News but still pops up occasionally.
The Ratings War and the 4 PM Fight
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Fox Business Network's Kudlow (hosted by Larry Kudlow) has been beating CNBC in total viewers at 4:00 PM for quite a while now.
CNBC’s pivot to Melissa Lee and Michael Santoli is a clear attempt to win back the "serious" investor. While Fox tends to lean more into political-economic commentary, CNBC is doubling down on raw data and earnings analysis.
Whether you like the new closing bell CNBC anchors or not usually depends on what you want from your news. If you want a play-by-play of the S&P 500's movement, Santoli is your best friend. If you want a more conversational, "what does this mean for my life" vibe, you might miss the Brennan/Fortt dynamic.
How to Watch and Stay Updated
If you're trying to keep track of these changes, here is the quick breakdown of the current 2026 schedule:
- 3:00 PM ET (Closing Bell): Scott Wapner (Solo).
- 4:00 PM ET (Closing Bell: Overtime): Melissa Lee and Michael Santoli.
- The "Floor" Reporter: You’ll still see Bob Pisani and Dominic Chu providing the boots-on-the-ground updates from the NYSE and Nasdaq.
Actionable Insights for Viewers:
If you find the anchor changes distracting, focus on the CNBC Pro alerts. Regardless of who is sitting in the anchor chair, the network's data feed remains the industry standard for real-time earnings. If you’re a serious trader, watch Overtime specifically for Michael Santoli’s "Last Word" segment; it usually provides the most objective summary of why the market actually moved the way it did.
Keep an eye on the 5:00 AM hour starting next week to see if Morgan Brennan’s new show shifts the morning narrative. The synergy between the early morning "setup" and the afternoon "close" is exactly what CNBC is trying to fix with this 2026 overhaul.