SNL tonight: No new episode during Olympics, next live show set for Feb. 28
If you’re searching “SNL tonight” on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the key detail is straightforward: Saturday Night Live does not have a new live episode tonight, and it’s currently on a short pause tied to NBC’s Winter Olympics schedule. The show’s regular slot remains Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET, but new episodes are not airing during the Olympics window.
The next confirmed return date for a new episode is Saturday, February 28, 2026, when the show is scheduled to come back with a fresh broadcast.
Why there isn’t a new episode tonight
SNL is a Saturday program, so Sundays don’t bring a live episode. But this week’s confusion is understandable because there also wasn’t a new episode on Saturday, February 7, either. NBC’s primetime focus has shifted to Winter Olympics coverage, and the late-night schedule has adjusted accordingly.
In practical terms, that means viewers may see a repeat in the usual time slot, or other programming, depending on the local schedule and network plans for the night.
The next new SNL date to circle
The next new, live SNL episode is set for Saturday, February 28, 2026.
That’s the first scheduled post-Olympics return, and it comes after the show’s milestone 1,000th episode at the end of January. A major milestone episode is often followed by a brief reset, and the Olympics provide a natural broadcast break.
Who’s hosting and performing next
For the Feb. 28 return, the announced lineup is:
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Host: Connor Storrie
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Musical guest: Mumford & Sons
For viewers who mainly tune in for the host, that booking signals a return to the show’s usual rhythm—topical cold open, monologue, live sketches, and weekend update—after the Olympics interruption.
What “SNL tonight” usually means for viewers
When people ask “SNL tonight,” they typically mean one of three things:
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Is there a new episode or a rerun?
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What time does it start in my time zone? (11:30 p.m. ET for live broadcast)
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Who’s hosting and who’s the musical guest?
This week, the answers are: no new episode tonight (and no new episode last Saturday), the usual time slot is still 11:30 p.m. ET when it airs, and the next new host and musical guest are slated for Feb. 28.
What to expect between now and Feb. 28
Between now and the Feb. 28 return, the most likely schedule pattern is reruns or Olympics-adjacent programming filling the late-night window. If you’re planning a watch party, the safest move is to treat Feb. 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET as the next must-watch date for new material, with any earlier Saturday nights viewed as “check local listings” territory.
SNL’s return also lines up with the stretch of the season when late-winter headlines typically feed into sharper political and pop-culture sketches—especially as awards season, sports storylines, and campaign activity overlap.
Sources consulted: NBC Insider, Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Decider
