Honestly, walking through the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza right now probably feels like the morning after a massive, decades-long party. We just watched Bowen Yang take his final bow in December after seven years of being the show’s undisputed emotional anchor. It was a lot. But as any die-hard fan knows, the machine never stops. If you’re looking for the saturday night live host schedule to see how the show recovers from that exit, the first few weeks of 2026 are already looking pretty electric.
NBC isn't playing it safe. They’re leaning hard into first-timers.
We’re kicking things off with a kid who basically grew up on our TV screens, followed by an awards-season darling, and finally, a Swedish vampire-turned-movie star for a massive milestone episode.
The January Lineup: Fresh Faces and Big Milestones
Coming back from the winter break is always a vibe check for SNL. This year, they’ve tapped Finn Wolfhard to lead the charge on January 17. It’s kind of a full-circle moment for him. You might remember him playing an NBC page in the Saturday Night biopic recently, but now he’s actually the one standing on home base. He’s fresh off the Stranger Things series finale, which honestly feels like the end of an era itself.
Joining him is A$AP Rocky. It’s his first time as a musical guest, and he’s dropping his new album, Don’t Be Dumb, literally the day before.
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The energy shifts the following week. On January 24, Teyana Taylor makes her hosting debut. She has been everywhere lately because of her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. If you haven’t seen the buzz, she’s basically a lock for some heavy hardware this awards season. She’ll be paired with the indie rock band Geese, who are also making their debut. Fun fact: the show actually spoofed their lead singer, Cameron Winter, back in December, so expect some meta-humor there.
The Big One: Episode 1,000
Then there’s January 31. This isn't just another Saturday. It is the 1,000th episode of Saturday Night Live.
Think about that. A thousand nights of "Live from New York."
To celebrate, Alexander Skarsgård is stepping in to host. It’s surprising he’s never done it before, given his range, but he’s there to promote his new film Pillion. To make the night even louder, Cardi B is the musical guest. She’s performing tracks from her new record Am I the Drama?, and if history is any indication, her sketches are usually the highlight of the night.
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Why the Schedule Looks a Bit Different This Season
If you’ve noticed a gap in the upcoming weeks after January, don’t panic. The saturday night live host schedule is hitting a wall in February because of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. NBC handles the broadcast, which means SNL usually takes a backseat for a few weeks while everyone watches curling and downhill skiing.
Expect a hiatus from roughly February 6 through February 22.
It’s a weird rhythm for a season, especially after such a massive cast shakeup. Remember, we didn't just lose Bowen. Before the season even started, we saw departures from Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim. The "new" cast—people like Tommy Brennan and Veronika Slowikowska—are still finding their feet.
What to Watch For in the Coming Months
While the official names for March haven't leaked from the 17th floor yet, the rumor mill is spinning. Usually, the show likes to grab whoever is hosting the Oscars or the big winners from the Golden Globes. Since Nikki Glaser just hosted the Globes, don't be shocked if she makes a return appearance later in the spring.
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The show is in a transitional phase. It's younger. It's a bit more experimental. Whether that works depends entirely on how these first-time hosts handle the pressure of the live environment.
Quick Guide to Upcoming Dates:
- January 17: Finn Wolfhard / A$AP Rocky
- January 24: Teyana Taylor / Geese
- January 31: Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B (The 1,000th Episode)
- February: Olympic Hiatus (No new episodes expected)
If you’re planning a watch party, keep an eye on the NBC social accounts on Wednesday afternoons. That’s usually when the "index card" announcement drops for the next block of shows.
For now, the best move is to catch up on the early Season 51 episodes on Peacock. The Sabrina Carpenter double-duty episode from October is still one of the most rewatched segments of the year for a reason.
The next step for any fan is to clear your Saturday nights for the rest of January. The 1,000th episode is likely to feature a massive influx of cameos from the "Five-Timers Club" and old legends, so you won't want to see the clips on TikTok the next morning—you'll want to see them happen live.