SNL Tonight: Is Saturday Night Live New This Weekend, and When the Next Episode Airs

If you’re searching “SNL tonight” hoping for a fresh episode, the short answer is no: there is not a new episode airing this Saturday night, February 21, 2026, in Eastern Time. The show is in a scheduled pause, so viewers will see a break in the usual live late-night rhythm rather than a new host, new musical guest, and new sketches.

That said, the pause has a clear end date, and the next new episode is already on the calendar.

Is SNL new tonight? What’s actually on instead

Saturday Night Live is off this weekend as the network’s schedule is being used for a major sports programming block that has displaced several regular-season shows. When that happens, SNL typically goes dark rather than airing a new episode in a different time slot.

So, if you tune in at the usual start time, you should expect non-SNL programming or alternate late-night content, not a live Studio 8H broadcast.

When is the next new SNL episode

The next new episode is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, airing at the standard late-night start time of 11:30 PM ET.

The February 28 episode is set to feature:

• Host: Connor Storrie

• Musical guest: Mumford & Sons

That pairing is drawing attention because it combines a first-time host with a well-known returning band, the kind of booking that often signals a “back from break” push to re-energize the season.

What was the most recent new SNL episode

The most recent new episode aired on Saturday, January 31, 2026, with:

• Host: Alexander Skarsgård

• Musical guest: Cardi B

That episode stands as the last new installment before this multi-week pause, which is why many “SNL tonight” searches are spiking now: people remember there was a recent run of new shows and are trying to figure out when the cadence resumes.

Behind the headline: why SNL breaks matter more than they used to

In the streaming era, a “rerun week” used to be a minor inconvenience. Now, it’s a bigger moment in the attention economy because SNL relies on rapid clip circulation, social chatter, and a predictable live event feeling. A break interrupts the weekly feedback loop that keeps sketches and cast members in the conversation.

There’s also a practical incentive: when the schedule is crowded with live sports and special programming, launching a new SNL episode can be a weaker bet. Ratings can soften, promotion gets diluted, and the show loses the Sunday-morning buzz it normally generates.

The stakeholders affected by a break include:

• The cast and writers, who lose a weekly showcase for new characters and recurring bits

• Music acts, who miss a high-impact performance slot

• Studios and publicists, who time press and releases around major late-night appearances

• Fans, who increasingly treat SNL as a Saturday-night appointment rather than a show they casually catch later

What we still don’t know during the pause

Even with the February 28 return set, there are a few open questions that shape how the next stretch of episodes could feel:

• How many consecutive new episodes will follow the return before the next break

• Whether additional hosts and musical guests will be announced for March and beyond in a single lineup drop or week by week

• How the season’s evolving cast and featured players will be used after the reset, when the show often adjusts screen time and recurring segments

These gaps are normal, but they matter because SNL’s momentum is built on repetition: recurring sketches, familiar update rhythms, and cast members becoming weekly fixtures.

What happens next: realistic scenarios for viewers planning ahead

1. February 28 kicks off a short run of new episodes
   Trigger: the schedule clears and the show returns to a steady weekly cadence.

2. A second new episode follows quickly in early March
   Trigger: production timing aligns with a planned two-episode burst.

3. Announcements expand soon after the return
   Trigger: promotional needs for upcoming films, tours, and awards-season campaigns.

4. The show uses the first episode back to reintroduce its season identity
   Trigger: post-break episodes often lean on proven formats to regain rhythm.

5. Another gap appears later in the spring
   Trigger: late-season scheduling shifts and special programming frequently create additional pauses.

The takeaway for “SNL tonight” searches

There isn’t a new episode tonight, February 21, 2026 ET. The next new Saturday Night Live episode is set for February 28, 2026 ET, with Connor Storrie hosting and Mumford & Sons as the musical guest. If you’re planning your viewing, mark next Saturday night at 11:30 PM ET as the return point, when the season’s weekly pulse is expected to restart.