September 26, 2026
On September 26, 2026, as NBC’s legendary late-night comedy series Saturday Night Live kicks off Season 52, Studio 8H is undergoing another notable cast transition. With high-profile departures reshaping the lineup and dynamic new talent making their studio debuts, viewers can expect fresh comedic energy alongside returning fan favorites.
Whether you want to track down the newest featured players or bid farewell to long-standing stars, here is everything you need to know about the Saturday Night Live Season 52 cast changes, debuts, and exits.
New Additions to the ‘SNL’ Season 52 Cast
NBC officially confirmed the arrival of two new featured players following the show’s summer talent search:
1. Saidah Belo-Osagie
–Background: Comedian, filmmaker, and writer from Queens, New York.
–Notable Work: Known for writing and directing the short film Tinge, founding the event series Afrobeats Futura, and writing her acclaimed solo show Saidah Gets Closure. She has also gained significant traction for her viral online character-driven comedy videos.
–Role: Featured Player.
- Grace Reiter
–Background: Actor, writer, comedian, and director originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
–Notable Work: Credited with creating, writing, and directing Netflix’s mockumentary Minimum Wage, appearing in The Chair Company, and producing the viral digital parody The Hunger Games (but Better). Notably, Reiter becomes the first SNL cast member born in the 21st century.
–Role: Featured Player.
Who Left ‘Saturday Night Live’ Ahead of Season 52?
The Season 52 roster shake-up follows the departures of key key performers and writers:
-Chloe Fineman: The impressionist and fan-favorite repertory player exited SNL after seven seasons. Fineman shared that while leaving her home at Studio 8H was bittersweet, she felt it was the right moment to pursue new acting projects.
-Martin Herlihy: The writer and member of the popular sketch comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy departed the writing staff after five seasons.
-Prior Recent Exits: These recent exits follow earlier high-profile cast transitions, including the departures of Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim during the previous season cycle.
Who Is Returning to ‘SNL’ in Season 52?
The core veteran lineup remains intact to guide the new roster through Season 52:
Main Repertory Cast:
-Kenan Thompson (longest-running cast member in SNL history)
-Michael Che (Weekend Update Anchor)
-Colin Jost (Weekend Update Anchor)
-Mikey Day
-Andrew Dismukes
-Marcello Hernández
-James Austin Johnson
-Sarah Sherman
-Ashley Padilla (Promoted to Repertory Status)
-Jane Wickline (Promoted to Repertory Status)
Featured Players Returning
-Ben Marshall
-Tommy Brennan
-Jeremy Culhane
-Kam Patterson
-Veronika Slowikowska
How to Watch ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 52
-Network: NBC
-Streaming: Live on Peacock (and available next-day on demand)
-Air Time: Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM PT
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