Get ready for three Saturdays in a row with brand new faces at Saturday Night Live. The show is coming back for 2026 with a January line-up featuring three first-time hosts. The season returns from its holiday break on January 17 with Finn Wolfhard and musical guest A$AP Rocky. Then, the excitement continues with two more debuts: Teyana Taylor hosts on January 24 with the band Geese, followed by Alexander Skarsgård on January 31 with Cardi B.
Why SNL’s January Hosts Are a Big Deal
January is a major month for Saturday Night Live. It marks the show’s return after a holiday break and sets the tone for the rest of the year. This year is especially significant. All three January hosts—Finn Wolfhard, Teyana Taylor, and Alexander Skarsgård—are stepping onto the Studio 8H stage as hosts for the very first time. This choice shows the show’s focus on bringing in new talent and creating unexpected moments.
The show is also about to hit a huge milestone. The episode on January 31, hosted by Alexander Skarsgård, is scheduled to be the historic 1,000th episode of Saturday Night Live. This adds extra importance to an already big month.
Teyana Taylor Brings Star Power on January 24
Teyana Taylor makes her hosting debut on Saturday, January 24. She is a multitalented performer known for her work in music and film. Taylor is currently receiving major recognition for her acting. Her performance in the film One Battle After Another, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, has earned her award nominations and strong praise from critics.
Taylor isn’t your typical comedy host, but that’s exactly the point. Her presence promises fresh sketches, a potentially unforgettable monologue, and the kind of cultural crossover SNL thrives on.
In addition to her acting, Taylor is a Grammy-nominated musician. Her 2025 album, Escape Room, is up for an award. She is no stranger to the SNL stage, having performed a duet with Kanye West back in 2018.
Joining her as musical guest is the indie rock band Geese. This will also be the band’s first time performing on SNL. Interestingly, the band was already part of an SNL sketch; cast member James Austin Johnson did an impression of Geese’s frontman, Cameron Winter, during Ariana Grande’s holiday show.
Alexander Skarsgård Makes History on January 31
On Saturday, January 31, Alexander Skarsgård takes his turn as a first-time host. This episode is especially notable as it is planned to be SNL’s landmark 1,000th episode. Skarsgård, a celebrated Swedish actor from a famous acting family, will be the first Swede ever to host the show.
Skarsgård is hosting at a busy time in his career. He has two new films coming out around the same time: The Moment, which arrives in theaters on January 30, and Pillion, which releases on February 6. Fans might also recognize him from the Apple TV+ series Murderbot.
The musical guest for this historic episode is Cardi B, making her return to the SNL stage. She first performed on the show in 2018, in an episode hosted by the late Chadwick Boseman. Her appearance will help promote her upcoming Little Miss Drama Tour, which starts in February.
Also Read:
Where and When to Watch SNL in January
All new episodes of Saturday Night Live air live at 11:30 PM Eastern Time / 8:30 PM Pacific Time. You can watch them on NBC or stream them live on Peacock.
The month kicks off with Finn Wolfhard hosting on January 17. Wolfhard, best known for playing Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things, will be joined by musical guest A$AP Rocky. This is a debut for both of them as well, continuing the theme of new talent for January.
A Look at the Current SNL Cast
These January shows come during a season of change for the SNL cast. This is the first run of episodes since popular cast member Bowen Yang left the show. Yang’s final episode was the December 20 holiday show hosted by Ariana Grande.
Season 51, which started in October 2025, introduced five new featured cast members: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall. The season has already featured hosts like Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, and Ariana Grande.
Also Read: Ember and Ice Audio Series Release Info: A Romantasy Duet for Heated Rivalry Fans
