Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard will kick off the first new episode of the year.Season 51 will be missing a longtime cast member after Bowen Yang's exit in December.Saturday Night Live is turning season 51 Upside Down when it returns from its winter hiatus in January with a Stranger Things star as the year's first host.

Last week, Dec. 13, Josh O’Connor made his debut as SNL host. He was joined by Lily Allen, returning for her second stint as musical guest. The week prior, on Dec. 7, SNL Five Timer Melissa McCarthy hosted, with Dijon as musical guest.

Finn Wolfhard will host the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 2026, alongside musical guest A$AP Rocky

The final new “SNL” episode of 2025 will air on Dec. 20. “Wicked: For Good” star Ariana Grande will close the season when she hosts the show for the third time. Her return to “SNL” for the 2025 Christmas episode comes just over a year after she stopped by Studio 8H for Season 50.

Ariana Grande is team Carol Burnett. The iciness between comedy legend Carol Burnett and SNL boss Lorne Michaels is well-documented, and Grande made her stance clear when she sported one of Burnett’s famous ensembles to promote her upcoming hosting stint on the show this weekend.

Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard has now been announced to host SNL but did you know this actor already tasted the limelight of the show?

Bowen Yang said goodbye to “Saturday Night Live” with the final sketch of the night, which was also his last.