Is “SNL” New Tonight? Bad Bunny Hosts Season 51 Premiere with Doja Cat as Musical Guest

Saturday Night Live is back with a brand-new season. Yes, SNL is new tonight, Saturday, October 3, 2025, as the iconic sketch show officially kicks off its 51st season. The highly anticipated premiere will be hosted by global music star Bad Bunny, while Doja Cat will take the stage as the musical guest.

This marks a big night for both stars. Bad Bunny, 31, returns for his second time hosting the long-running NBC show. Doja Cat, 29, will make her debut as the musical performer on SNL, bringing one of the year’s most talked-about pop and hip-hop acts to Studio 8H.

SNL Season 51 Premiere: Time, Channel, and What to Expect

The new episode will air live at 11:30 p.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. PST on NBC, with simultaneous streaming available on Peacock. Fans can watch the show in real time or catch it later on-demand.

This season opener comes after major cast changes following SNL’s milestone 50th year. Several cast members — including Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim — have exited. The show is introducing fresh talent such as Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska, joining returning members like Michael Che, Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, and Bowen Yang. Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline also return as featured players.

Season 51 follows SNL’s historic run of award wins, including 15 Emmy Awards earlier this year. The mix of new cast members and fan-favorite veterans is expected to give the show a refreshed dynamic while keeping its signature sketch style alive.

Upcoming Hosts and Musical Guests After the Premiere

After tonight’s Bad Bunny and Doja Cat episode, SNL has more big names lined up. On October 11, SNL alum Amy Poehler will return to host, with indie-pop artist Role Model as the musical guest. The following week, October 18, Sabrina Carpenter will pull double duty as both host and musical guest — a first in her career.

With these back-to-back high-profile hosts and performers, season 51 is shaping up to keep its momentum and remain a centerpiece of live TV comedy.

SNL fans have plenty to look forward to tonight and in the coming weeks as the show embraces both change and nostalgia. If you’ve been asking, “Is SNL new tonight?” — the answer is yes, and it’s a must-watch premiere.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Is SNL new tonight?

Yes. Saturday Night Live is back with a new episode on Saturday, October 3, 2025, marking the start of its 51st season.

Q2: Who is hosting SNL tonight?

Bad Bunny is hosting the season 51 premiere, returning to Studio 8H as host for the second time.

Q3: Who is the musical guest on SNL tonight?

Doja Cat is performing as the musical guest, making her debut on SNL’s stage.

Q4: What time does SNL air?

SNL airs live at 11:30 p.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. PST on NBC and streams on Peacock.

Q5: Who will host SNL next week?

Amy Poehler will host the October 11 episode with Role Model as the musical guest.