SNL Sets Jalen Brunson, Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis and Inde Navarrette as First Hosts of Season 52

Brunson to host season premiere after Knicks' first NBA title in 53 years

"Saturday Night Live" announced on Wednesday that Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks point guard who led New York to its first NBA championship in 53 years, will host the season 52 premiere on Sept. 26 with girl group Katseye as musical guest. The announcement came in a post on the show's social media accounts. Both Brunson and Katseye will be making their "SNL" debuts, joining a list of basketball greats who have hosted the program, including Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James.

Johnson, Gillis and Navarrette round out the opening slate

Dakota Johnson will host the Oct. 3 episode alongside Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile, making it Johnson's third time hosting. She previously hosted in January 2024 and made her debut in February 2015. Comedian Shane Gillis, who was hired and then fired from the show in 2019 before returning as host twice, will host for a third time on Oct. 10 with Rosalía as musical guest. Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of the horror film "Obsession," will make her hosting debut on Halloween night (Oct. 31) with Gracie Abrams as musical guest. Both Rosalía and Abrams are returning for their second appearances, while Turnstile will make its "SNL" debut. Gillis broke two Guinness World Records for a one-night-only comedy show at Lincoln Financial Field earlier this summer.

Cast and crew changes ahead of the new season

Longtime cast member Chloe Fineman, who joined the show in 2019, has departed after seven seasons. Writer and performer Martin Herlihy, who appeared in sketches as part of the Please Don't Destroy group, has also exited the show after five seasons, having worked in the writers room during season 51. The departures were disclosed alongside the host announcement.

Premiere schedule and broadcast details

Season 52 premieres Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC and streams live on Peacock. Episodes become available to stream the day after they air. Across the Atlantic, "Saturday Night Live UK" announced its own second-season premiere for Sept. 12 with Jeff Goldblum as host and CMAT as musical guest, with the full cast from the first season returning for a 12-episode run. The American show's last completed season, season 51, included hosts such as Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and Jack Black.