Saturday Night Live is back with another new episode, but this week’s broadcast comes with more than a familiar late-night comedy formula. Shane Gillis is returning to Studio 8H, and his appearance brings renewed attention to a controversial chapter in his relationship with the show. Meanwhile, Spanish singer Rosalía is set to take the musical spotlight, giving the October 10 episode a combination of stand-up comedy, celebrity appearances and live performances.
The episode marks the third instalment of SNL Season 52, following a season premiere hosted by NBA star Jalen Brunson and a second episode featuring Dakota Johnson. With new cast members joining and two familiar performers no longer returning, the latest broadcast arrives during a period of change for the long-running NBC series.
Is ‘Saturday Night Live’ New Tonight, October 10, 2026?
Yes. Saturday Night Live airs a new episode on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with comedian Shane Gillis as host and Rosalía as the musical guest.
The programme continues its regular Saturday-night schedule, broadcasting live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The October 10 episode is the third of Season 52 and follows two different host-and-musical-guest combinations during the opening weeks.
Jalen Brunson hosted the September 26 premiere, which featured KATSEYE making its SNL musical-guest debut. On October 3, actress Dakota Johnson returned to host, with Turnstile performing as the musical guest for the first time.
NBCUniversal announced the initial four-episode lineup in September. After Gillis and Rosalía’s appearance, the series is scheduled to take a two-week break before returning with its Halloween episode on October 31.
Following the SNL Cast Shake-Up
The arrival of new featured players and the departure of familiar names are important parts of the Season 52 story beyond this week’s guest lineup. For more background, explore our report on the Season 52 cast shake-up.
What Time Does ‘SNL’ Air Tonight? NBC and Peacock Details
The October 10 episode is scheduled to air at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC. Viewers can also watch the programme live on Peacock.
Episodes are subsequently made available for streaming, giving audiences another opportunity to catch up if they miss the live broadcast. Availability can vary by service and location.
As usual, the programme combines a host-led opening monologue, topical comedy, recurring characters and musical performances. However, the individual sketches and songs planned for the October 10 broadcast should not be treated as confirmed until they appear in the episode or official coverage.
| Episode detail | Information |
| Series | Saturday Night Live |
| Season | 52 |
| Episode | 3 |
| Broadcast date | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| Host | Shane Gillis |
| Musical guest | Rosalía |
| NBC airtime | 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT |
| Filming location | Studio 8H, Rockefeller Center, New York City |
| Live streaming | Peacock |
| Next announced episode | Halloween special on October 31, 2026 |
Why Shane Gillis’ Return to ‘SNL’ Is Getting Attention
Gillis is returning to Saturday Night Live for his third hosting appearance. He previously hosted the programme in February 2024 and March 2025.
His latest appearance is notable because his original association with the show ended before he ever appeared as a cast member. In 2019, NBC announced that Gillis would join the ensemble for Season 45. However, the network dropped him before the season began after recordings of past racial and homophobic comments resurfaced and prompted criticism.
His return as a host in 2024 marked a new chapter in his relationship with the programme. He hosted again in March 2025, and the October 10 broadcast brings him back to Studio 8H for a third time.
It is important to distinguish between his original casting and his later appearances: Gillis was announced as a cast member in 2019 but never began that planned tenure. His subsequent visits have been as a guest host, not as a regular cast member.
What Has Shane Gillis Been Doing Before Season 52?
Gillis has continued developing his career through stand-up comedy and television. NBCUniversal’s announcement highlighted his sold-out performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field during the summer of 2026.
The announcement also noted that his series Tires had been renewed for a fourth season.
These developments provide the context for his latest hosting appearance, which brings him back to a programme that has been part of his public story since the 2019 casting controversy.
Rosalía Returns to ‘Saturday Night Live’ as Musical Guest
While Gillis handles the hosting duties, Rosalía will provide the episode’s musical performances.
The Spanish singer-songwriter and Grammy-winning artist previously appeared on Saturday Night Live in March 2022. Her October 10 appearance marks her second time performing as the show’s musical guest.
Rosalía has gained international recognition for combining flamenco influences with contemporary pop, electronic music and other styles. Her work has helped establish her as a prominent figure in modern Spanish-language music.
NBCUniversal announced her return and noted that she had recently completed her global Lux tour.
Her appearance gives the episode a major musical component alongside Gillis’ comedy. However, the published lineup announcement does not confirm which songs she will perform, so the setlist remains something viewers will have to discover during the broadcast or through official episode coverage.
‘SNL’ Season 52 Cast: Who Is Returning and Who Is Leaving?
The latest season brings together returning performers, newer members of the ensemble and two newly announced featured players. At the same time, the absence of Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang marks a significant change from the previous season.
According to NBCUniversal’s official cast announcement, the returning ensemble includes:
- Michael Che
- Mikey Day
- Andrew Dismukes
- Marcello Hernández
- James Austin Johnson
- Colin Jost
- Ashley Padilla
- Sarah Sherman
- Kenan Thompson
- Jane Wickline
- Tommy Brennan
- Jeremy Culhane
- Ben Marshall
- Kam Patterson
- Veronika Slowikowska
The group includes established performers and comedians who joined more recently. Kenan Thompson remains one of the programme’s longest-serving cast members, while Colin Jost and Michael Che are known for their work on Weekend Update, the show’s recurring satirical news segment.
These performers provide the ensemble for the weekly sketches, with guest hosts joining the cast for each episode.
Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter Join ‘SNL’ Season 52
NBCUniversal announced on September 16, 2026, that Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter would join the show as featured players.
Belo-Osagie is a performer and filmmaker from Queens, New York. Her work includes writing and directing the short film Tinge, creating the event series Afrobeats Futura and developing her solo show Saidah Gets Closure.
Reiter, originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, has credits that include The Chair Company, the upcoming series Minimum Wage, on which she also wrote and directed, and the online parody The Hunger Games (but Better).
Their additions introduce new performers to the established ensemble at the start of Season 52.
Chloe Fineman Exits After Seven Seasons
Chloe Fineman departed Saturday Night Live in July 2026 after seven seasons.
Her farewell described her time on the programme as:
“after 7 wonderful seasons”
Fineman became known for her celebrity impressions, character performances and sketch appearances. Her departure is one of the notable changes to the cast ahead of the new season.
Bowen Yang Is Also Not Returning for Season 52
Bowen Yang is another notable departure from the previous season’s ensemble. Peacock’s current Saturday Night Live information identifies both Yang and Fineman among the performers not returning for Season 52.
Yang initially joined the show as a writer before becoming an on-screen cast member. His work helped make him one of the programme’s recognisable recent performers, particularly through character sketches and celebrity impressions.
With Yang and Fineman leaving and Belo-Osagie and Reiter joining, Season 52 begins with a revised cast combining long-serving performers with newer additions.
What Happened in the First Two ‘SNL’ Season 52 Episodes?
The first two episodes established the season’s opening lineup and delivered several notable guest appearances.
September 26: Jalen Brunson Hosts With KATSEYE
NBA star Jalen Brunson hosted the Season 52 premiere on September 26, marking his first hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live.
NBCUniversal’s announcement noted that the New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals for their first championship in 53 years, with Brunson named Finals Most Valuable Player.
KATSEYE served as the musical guest, making its SNL debut. The global girl group had released its third EP, WILD, and was on its WILDWORLD tour.
The premiere set the tone for a season combining familiar entertainment names with musical acts appearing on the programme for the first time.
October 3: Dakota Johnson, Turnstile and Taylor Swift’s Surprise Appearance
Dakota Johnson returned to host the October 3 episode, marking her third hosting appearance. Turnstile performed as the musical guest for the first time.
The episode also featured an unexpected appearance by Taylor Swift during Johnson’s opening monologue. Swift joined her friend onstage for a comedic exchange about Johnson’s dating history and their friendship.
Johnson jokingly referred to Swift as her:
“literal therapist”
Swift responded in the same playful spirit. The cameo became one of the episode’s most talked-about moments, adding an unexpected celebrity appearance to the second broadcast of the season.
Turnstile’s performance was also notable for bringing hardcore music to the programme, a genre that has rarely featured in SNL musical performances.
Who Hosts ‘SNL’ Next? Halloween Episode Details
After the October 10 broadcast, Saturday Night Live is scheduled to take a two-week break before returning on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Actress Inde Navarrette will host the Halloween episode, marking her hosting debut. Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams will serve as the musical guest.
NBCUniversal described Navarrette as the breakout star of the horror-thriller Obsession. The company also listed her among the performers expected to appear in the upcoming X-Men film and The Waffle House Index.
Abrams will make her second appearance as the show’s musical guest. According to NBCUniversal’s announcement, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter is scheduled to begin her The Look at My Life tour in December in support of her third studio album, Daughter from Hell.
The October 31 episode is the next announced instalment following Gillis and Rosalía’s appearance.
Where to Watch ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 52
New episodes of Saturday Night Live air live on NBC on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT and stream live on Peacock. Episodes are also made available after the broadcast, although availability may vary by service and location.
The series is produced in association with Broadway Video, with creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels continuing to lead the programme’s production.
For the October 10 episode, viewers can look forward to Gillis’ third hosting appearance and Rosalía’s second musical-guest performance, alongside the Season 52 ensemble.
Revisiting Taylor Swift’s Surprise Appearance
Taylor Swift’s appearance during Dakota Johnson’s October 3 monologue gave the season’s second episode an additional celebrity moment. Revisit the exchange in our recap of Swift’s appearance with Dakota Johnson.
Conclusion: Shane Gillis and Rosalía Lead Another Changing ‘SNL’ Season
The October 10 episode brings Shane Gillis back to Saturday Night Live for his third hosting appearance, pairing his return with Rosalía’s second performance as musical guest. The broadcast follows two opening episodes featuring Jalen Brunson, KATSEYE, Dakota Johnson and Turnstile, including Taylor Swift’s surprise cameo.
Beyond this week’s guests, Season 52 is also introducing new featured players while moving forward without Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang. After Gillis and Rosalía’s episode, the series is scheduled to return on October 31 with Inde Navarrette and Gracie Abrams.
Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared using the sources listed below, including NBCUniversal’s official Season 52 announcements, Peacock’s current Saturday Night Live information and published reporting from PEOPLE. It reflects the information available in those sources as of October 10, 2026. The article does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material, and details not confirmed in official announcements remain subject to confirmation.
Sources
- PEOPLE: Is SNL New Tonight?
- NBCUniversal: Saturday Night Live Season 52 Announcement
- NBCUniversal: SNL Announces Two New Cast Members
- Peacock: Saturday Night Live on Peacock
- NBC Insider: Watch Dakota Johnson’s SNL Sketches and Monologue
Featured Image Credit: NBC / Saturday Night Live
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