Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks point guard who played a pivotal role in securing the team’s first NBA championship in over 50 years and earned the Finals MVP title, is set to host the upcoming 52nd season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” NBC confirmed that Brunson will appear as host on Sept. 26, marking a significant moment as he continues to build his profile beyond the basketball court. The musical guest for this episode will be the Grammy-nominated pop group Katseye.
Following Brunson’s debut, actress Dakota Johnson is scheduled to return as host the week after, coinciding with the theatrical release of her romantic thriller “Verity.” This will be Johnson’s third time hosting “Saturday Night Live,” having previously led episodes in 2015 and earlier this year in 2024. The rock band Turnstile will accompany her as the musical guest.
The season will also feature comedian Shane Gillis hosting for the third time on Oct. 10. Gillis, who initially was dismissed from the show in 2019 after controversial remarks, subsequently returned as host in both 2024 and 2025. For his upcoming episode, Spanish singer Rosalía will perform, marking her second appearance as the show’s musical guest.
On Halloween, “Saturday Night Live” will welcome Inde Navarrette, known for starring in the recent horror hit “Obsession,” as host. Gracie Abrams will provide the musical entertainment for that episode.
Season 52 will begin without Chloe Fineman, who announced in July that she would be departing after seven seasons on the show. Fineman gained recognition for her wide range of celebrity impressions, including Drew Barrymore, Melania Trump, Timothée Chalamet, and Britney Spears. Additionally, Martin Herlihy, a writer and occasional performer from the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, is also leaving before the new season starts.
The previous season, Season 51, experienced notable cast turnover with the departure of five members, among them founding cast members Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, as well as Bowen Yang, who exited mid-season. Five new cast members joined during that period, signaling continued evolution for the long-running sketch series.
Further announcements regarding cast changes for the new season are expected in the near future.