New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson will make his SNL
hosting debut on September 26, anchoring a star-studded opening lineup for Season 52 that also features Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis, and Inde Navarrette, alongside fresh cast changes following Chloe Fineman’s departure.
Saturday Night Live has officially set its sights on a star-studded return for its upcoming 52nd season, launching with a heavy-hitting roster of hosts and musical acts that bridges professional sports, comedy, and cinema. The sketch staple revealed its initial four-week lineup in a Wednesday social media announcement, setting up three consecutive weeks of episodes before closing out October with a festive Halloween special, according to USA Today.
Jalen Brunson Leads the Season 52 Premiere on September 26
The season premiere on September 26 will be spearheaded by Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks point guard who cemented his status in local lore by leading his team to their first NBA championship in 53 years, as detailed by Variety. Brunson joins a select group of NBA stars—including Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James—who have stepped into Studio 8H to host the long-running late-night institution, as reported by Deadline.
Both Brunson and his musical guest for the evening, K-pop girl group Katseye, will be making their SNL
debuts. Katseye enters the stage fresh off the release of their EP Wild
and amidst their ongoing Wildworld tour.
Fall Lineup Brings Back Dakota Johnson and Shane Gillis
The early-season momentum continues into October with returning veterans and high-profile musical acts. On October 3, Dakota Johnson takes over hosting duties for the third time, joined by hardcore rock band Turnstile during their Never Enough Tour Part 2, according to yahoo.com. Johnson’s return coincides with the theatrical release of her film Verity,
which hits theaters on October 2.
Shane Gillis returns for his third hosting stint on October 10. Gillis, who was briefly part of the cast in 2019 before being fired, heads back to Studio 8H following a summer that saw him break the Guinness World Record for the largest stand-up audience and recently released Season 3 of his Netflix comedy series Tires,
alongside two sold-out performances at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. He will be paired with musical guest Rosalía, marking her second time performing on the show as she wraps up her Lux world tour.
Halloween Special and Offseason Cast Departures
The month of October rounds out on Halloween night with a hosting debut from Obsession
star Inde Navarrette on October 31. Navarrette, who has recently scored roles in the new X-Men film and The Waffle House Index, will share the stage with musical guest Gracie Abrams, returning for her second appearance after releasing the album Daughter From Hell.
Behind the scenes, the show returns with noticeably less cast turnover than in 2025. Comedian Chloe Fineman announced her departure from the show in July after seven seasons, sharing a farewell on Instagram after joining as a featured player in 2019. Writer and Please Don’t Destroy member Martin Herlihy has also exited the series after five seasons, having transitioned from his on-screen role in the sketch trio to the writing room for Season 51. Meanwhile, newcomers like Kam Patterson have confirmed their return for the new season.
“After 7 wonderful seasons at SNL I have decided it’s time for my next chapter,” she wrote alongside photos from her time on the NBC show. “It’s cliche to say this but working at SNL has been the greatest privilege of my life. I still can’t really believe I got to be a part of it.”
Chloe Fineman
Across the Atlantic, Saturday Night Live UK
preempted its American counterpart by announcing its second-season premiere plans for September 12, featuring Jeff Goldblum and CMAT with a returning full cast for a 12-episode run.
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