5 Essential Facts About 'What Time Is SNL Tonight' (December 2025 Holiday Schedule)
The question "What time is SNL tonight?" is one of the most frequently searched queries every week, but as of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the answer is straightforward: Saturday Night Live is currently on its annual winter hiatus. While a new episode will not air tonight, the iconic sketch comedy show's standard air time is always 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on NBC. Fans looking for a comedy fix tonight will have to tune in for a classic rerun or dive into the show’s massive streaming library. This guide provides the definitive, up-to-date schedule details, including the exact return date for Season 51 and the best places to stream every classic sketch during the break.
The Season 51 fall run concluded with a spectacular Christmas episode on December 20, 2025, hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher, which means the cast and crew are now off for the holidays. For viewers in the Eastern and Pacific time zones, the show airs live coast-to-coast, but the scheduling gets a little trickier for those in other areas. Here is everything you need to know about watching SNL tonight, this weekend, and when the show finally returns in the New Year.
Fact 1: The Definitive Air Time and Channel for New Episodes
The first and most crucial fact for any dedicated fan is the show's consistent, decades-old air time. Knowing this standard schedule is essential, especially when planning your Saturday nights during the season.
The Standard SNL Air Time Across All Zones
A new episode of Saturday Night Live always airs at the same time, regardless of the coast, thanks to its live, coast-to-coast broadcast.
- Eastern Time (ET): 11:30 p.m.
- Central Time (CT): 10:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time (MT): 9:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time (PT): 8:30 p.m.
This live schedule means viewers on the West Coast get to watch the show significantly earlier than their East Coast counterparts, a format that has been in place since Season 43.
How to Watch Live Tonight (Rerun Details)
Even though a new episode is not airing, NBC will typically schedule a rerun in the 11:30 p.m. ET slot on Saturday nights. On a weeknight like tonight (Tuesday, December 23, 2025), the SNL time slot is usually filled by local news and then The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, followed by Late Night With Seth Meyers.
To catch any potential rerun, you must tune into the NBC Television Network. For those who have cut the cord, the show is also broadcast live on the NBC channel available through live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV.
Fact 2: The SNL Holiday Hiatus and When Season 51 Returns
If you were hoping for a fresh batch of sketches, you will have to wait a few weeks. Saturday Night Live traditionally enters a winter break after its final pre-Christmas episode, and the Season 51 schedule is no different.
The Final Episode of 2025
The last new episode of the year aired on Saturday, December 20, 2025, and it was a blockbuster event.
- Host: Ariana Grande (her third time hosting)
- Musical Guest: Cher (her second time performing)
This episode served as the official mid-season finale, wrapping up the show's run for the calendar year 2025.
When is the Next New Episode?
The cast and crew will remain on break for the rest of December and the first half of January. The next new episode of Saturday Night Live Season 51 is currently scheduled to return on:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
While the full line-up for the January 17th return is still being finalized, early reports indicate that actor Finn Wolfhard is slated to host the first new show of 2026.
Fact 3: The Ultimate Streaming Guide (All 51 Seasons on Peacock)
The holiday break is the perfect time to catch up on classic sketches, discover a favorite former cast member, or revisit the best moments from Season 51. The most comprehensive way to stream Saturday Night Live is through NBC’s dedicated streaming service.
Peacock: The Home of SNL History
Every single episode of Saturday Night Live, spanning all 51 seasons from the 1970s to the present day, is available to stream exclusively on Peacock.
- Full Library Access: You must subscribe to the paid tiers, Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus, to access the complete series archive.
- Season 51 On-Demand: New episodes from the current season are typically available to stream on Peacock the morning after they air live on NBC.
- Caveat on Music: Due to complex music licensing rights, some segments featuring musical guests in older seasons may be edited or completely removed from the Peacock stream.
Other Streaming Options
If you are only interested in the most recent content, there are a few other options to consider:
- NBC.com: The most recent episodes are often available for a limited time on the official NBC website and app.
- YouTube: The official Saturday Night Live YouTube channel is an excellent, free resource for individual sketches, including "Weekend Update" segments, digital shorts, and musical performances from the current and recent seasons.
- Digital Purchase: Full seasons or individual episodes can be purchased from digital platforms like Apple TV (iTunes) and Amazon Prime Video.
Fact 4: The Season 51 Highlights You Can Stream Now
The current season has been packed with viral moments, impressive hosting debuts, and returning fan favorites. While you wait for the January return, you can revisit some of the top-rated and most talked-about episodes of Season 51 (2025).
- The Josh O’Connor Episode (December 13, 2025): The star of The Crown and Challengers made his hosting debut with musical guest Lily Allen, delivering several critically acclaimed sketches.
- The Melissa McCarthy Episode (December 6, 2025): McCarthy returned for her sixth time hosting, closing out a fantastic run of fall shows alongside musical guest Dijon.
- The Season Premiere: The season kicked off in October 2025, setting the stage for a new year of political satire and pop culture commentary.
By focusing your streaming efforts on these recent episodes, you can stay current with the show's comedic style and the performance of the current ensemble cast.
Fact 5: Key Terms for Finding SNL Information (Topical Authority)
To ensure you always find the most accurate and up-to-date information on the show's schedule, especially during breaks or unexpected changes, use these specific search terms, also known as LSI keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing), to get the best results:
- "SNL schedule tonight" or "Is SNL new tonight": These are the fastest ways to get a yes/no answer and see if a rerun is scheduled.
- "Next new SNL episode": This will provide the definitive date for the show's return after any break.
- "SNL Peacock": This is the quickest way to find the streaming options for the entire series.
- "Saturday Night Live Season 51": Use the season number to find specific details about the current cast, hosts, and musical guests.
- "SNL live comedy" or "showbiz highlights": These terms help find reviews and analysis of recent episodes, enriching your fan experience.
In summary, while there is no new Saturday Night Live airing tonight, December 23, 2025, or this coming Saturday, the show will return with a fresh episode on January 17, 2026, at the standard time of 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Until then, the full library of all 51 seasons is waiting for you on Peacock Premium.
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