Finn Wolfhard Will Host SNL in 2026 — But One Stranger Things Co-Star Beat Him by Four Years
Saturday Night Live is set to ignite 2026 with fresh sketches, surprise newcomers, and Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard in the spotlight — but did you catch the blink-and-you-miss-it twist everyone overlooked?
SNL is kicking off 2026 like it means it. We have a new host with major Netflix cred, a first-time musical guest who has technically been there before, and a surprising goodbye from one of the show’s breakout stars. Let’s unpack.
Finn Wolfhard is hosting SNL
Announced during the Christmas episode, Finn Wolfhard will host Saturday Night Live on January 17, 2026. Ariana Grande did the honors introducing him on-air (yes, the same Christmas episode where she appeared alongside the legendary Cher), and she also revealed the musical guest: A$AP Rocky.
Small but fun wrinkle: this will be A$AP Rocky’s debut as the official musical performer, even though he already popped up for a quick cameo back in 2018 when Donald Glover hosted.
Wolfhard already has SNL roots
Beyond Stranger Things, Wolfhard has brushed up against SNL lore before. He starred in Jason Reitman’s film 'Saturday Night,' which dramatizes the chaos of SNL’s very first broadcast on October 11, 1975. He’s also clearly a student of the show’s deep cuts. Asked by PEOPLE what sketch he would revive, he shouted out a classic bit with Jason Sudeikis and Nasim Pedrad that sent up a metal festival’s ad blitz:
'They were hosts of this terrible metal festival, and they would do themed commercials announcing the lineup. I was watching that recently and I thought it was so funny because it’s just an excuse to basically name a bunch of random bands. I think that sketch would be really funny to bring back.'
Also worth noting: Wolfhard is a musician himself (The Aubreys, formerly Calpurnia), so he’s coming in with pretty ideal host energy for a show that lives and dies by timing.
Stranger Things and SNL go way back
This isn’t the first time Hawkins has crossed 30 Rock. In 2019, David Harbour hosted SNL (Season 45, Episode 3), with Camila Cabello as the musical guest. That episode was directed by Paul Briganti, Don Roy King, and others. Harbour, of course, also suits up in the MCU with Black Widow and the upcoming Thunderbolts*.
Both Harbour and Wolfhard are back together soon in the final season of Stranger Things. If you need a refresher, here’s the core Season 5 lineup:
- Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
- Finn Wolfhard
- Noah Schnapp
- Winona Ryder
- Gaten Matarazzo
- Caleb McLaughlin
- Sadie Sink
- Natalia Dyer
- Charlie Heaton
- Maya Hawke
- Joe Keery
When the new season does land, it will stream on Netflix.
Bowen Yang says goodbye
On the flip side of the good news, longtime MVP Bowen Yang is out. He announced his departure on Instagram (as @fayedunaway) the same day he performed his final sketch on the show. No reason given. The farewell episode happened to be hosted by his 'Wicked' co-star Ariana Grande, who said she was 'so proud of' his time on SNL and the work he did there.
Quick timeline check: Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018, then moved to the cast in 2019. Losing him is a real hit; he’s one of those performers who can carry a sketch with a single eyebrow raise.
Bottom line: SNL’s 2026 slate already has a little bit of everything — a buzzy host with legit comedy taste, a big-name musical guest finally getting the full spotlight, and a major cast change that is absolutely going to be felt.