Huge names including Turnstile, Rosalía and Gracie Abrams have been confirmed as the musical guests for the new season of Saturday Night Live, while the upcoming season of SNL UK will see performances from Royal Blood and Rachel Chinouriri.
The original US version of the hit sketch show will be returning for its 52nd season later this month, with the first episode set to air on September 26.
In a new update from showrunners, the hosts and musical guests set to perform on the first four episodes have been announced, with KATSEYE lined-up to perform on the season debut, and NBA Finals MVP and New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson set to host.
For KATSEYE, the appearance will be their first time on the show, and it hasn’t yet been confirmed whether the line-up will feature Lara, Megan, Daniela and Yoonchae alongside Manon and Sophia – as the latter two are currently on hiatus. The slot also comes on the heels of them dropping their latest EP ‘Wild’.
On October 3 (episode two), the musical act will be Turnstile, with the Baltimore hardcore legends also set to feature on the show for the very first time. Host on that night will be Dakota Johnson, who is back for the third time.
For episode three, which airs on October 10, comedian Shane Gillis will host for the third time, and Rosalía will also make her third appearance on the show – performing as the musical guest on the night, following a cameo with Bad Bunny in 2021, and a slot as musical guest in 2022.
From there, the show will take a two week break, but return for a Halloween episode on October 31 – hosted by Obsession star Inde Navarrette for the first time, and featuring the second musical guest appearance from Grace Abrams, following her debut on the show in 2024.
As well as the original SNL kicking off again later this month, the newer, across-the-pond edition – SNL UK – is also set to make its return, having launched earlier this spring.
The second season of the show will begin this Saturday (September 12), and it has already been confirmed that Jeff Goldblum is lined-up as host, and CMAT on board to appear as the musical guest.
The following week (September 19), Fleabag star Jamie Demetriou will take on hosting duties, and the musical performance will come from Brighton rock duo Royal Blood – with the band set to drop new album ‘Dead Company’ in November.
For the third episode, which comes out on September 26, Amelia Dimoldenberg will present, and Rachel Chinouriri will perform live, having recently announced new album ‘I Think I Spoke Too Soon’.
The British spin-off of the long-running US sketch comedy show debuted on Sky One in March with former SNL US cast member Tina Fey as the host and Wet Leg as the musical guest. Since then, celebrities including Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, and Nicola Coughlan have hosted, while music acts have included Kasabian, Foo Fighters, and MEEK.
While the show has received a generally warm reception, it has also divided some people with its sketches. Earlier this year, for instance, cast member Ania Magliano responded to controversy surrounding her joke that drew comparisons between Mark Zuckerberg and Hitler, describing the tech billionaire as “fair game,” and said that she was “kind of detached” from any online criticism.
Already the UK version of the show has been confirmed to include episodes in 2027, and broadcaster Sky has promised a “fresh season of unpredictable, must-watch Saturday night television”, with all 11 eleven original cast members returning.
