Saturday Night Live's Season 52 Cast Members: The Full Lineup for 2026-2027

See the full Saturday Night Live Season 52 cast here, including new Featured Players Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter.

NBC Insider Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live's Season 52 Cast Members: The Full Lineup for 2026-2027

Two new performers have joined ahead of the September 23 premiere — and one previously collaborated with newly-minted Repertory Player Jane Wickline.

By Samantha Vincenty Sep 18, 2026, 8:35 AM ET

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Key Takeaways

The Saturday Night Live Season 52 cast features two new cast members: Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter.
Major returning cast members include Kenan Thompson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Mikey Day, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline.
Kenan Thompson enters his record-breaking 24th season, and Michael Che and Colin Jost continue as the longest-running “Weekend Update” anchor duo.

The cast of Saturday Night Live has always been the backbone of the show, and Season 52 is no different.

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SNL premiered on September 26 with Jalen Brunson as the first Host of the season and the season's first Musical Guest, KATSEYE. Both starred in sketches with the show's two new Featured Players, Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter, who have joined returning Season 51 cast including Kenan Thompson, Sarah Sherman, and Mikey Day.

Read on to learn all about Saturday Night Live's Season 52 cast below, and watch at 11:30 ET/10:30C/8:30PT on NBC and Peacock, streaming next-day on Peacock.

Who is in the SNL Season 52 cast?

Repertory Players:

Michael Che
Mikey Day
Andrew Dismukes
Marcello Hernández
James Austin Johnson
Colin Jost
Ashley Padilla
Sarah Sherman
Kenan Thompson
Jane Wickline

Featured Players:

Saidah Belo-Osagie
Tommy Brennan
Jeremy Culhane
Ben Marshall
Kam Patterson
Grace Reiter
Veronika Slowikowska

Get to know Saturday Night Live's full Season 52 cast below.

Which Season 51 cast members are back for Season 52?

The cast of Saturday Night Live Season 51 posing together on set.

The cast in Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Season 51 Repertory Players Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Kenan Thompson have returned to Studio 8H.

Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline, who joined as Featured Players in 2024, are also back as Repertory Players for their third year, while all five new Season 51 Featured Players have returned as well.

After six-and-a-half seasons, Bowen Yang exited the show midway through Season 51. Chloe Fineman, who joined the cast in Season 45 alongside Yang, announced her decision to leave in July on Instagram.

"It’s really hard to leave SNL but it does feel like the right time. I’m going to miss it a lot," Fineman wrote in her post.

Saturday Night Live's Season 52 Repertory Players

Michael Che

Michael Che during Weekend Update on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Photo: Will Heath/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 13

New York City's own Micheal Che joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2013, joining the cast in 2014 to host "Weekend Update." Alongside Colin Jost, Che remains one half of the longest-running "Weekend Update" anchor duo in the show's history, both anchors beating Seth Meyers' former record. Che was also one of SNL's head writers with Jost from 2017-2023.

Che has earned nine Emmy nominations for his writing on the show. He also earned two Emmy wins in 2025 for producing and writing on SNL50: The Anniversary Special, including for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.

Prior to SNL, Che was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In 2015, he starred alongside former SNL cast member Tracy Morgan and former SNL writer J.B. Smoove in Chris Rock's 2015 film Top Five. A longtime stand-up comedian, Che regularly performs in New York City and across the country.

Mikey Day

Mikey Day appears on the SNL50 Red Carpet on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Photo: NBC/Jamie McCarthy/NBC via Getty Images

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 11

As of Season 52, Mikey Day has been an SNL cast member for 10 years. The Wild 'n Out alum started as a writer in Season 39, and joined the cast for Season 42 in 2016. In addition to being known as a gifted performer in viral sketches like "Beavis and Butt-Head" and "Passing Notes" — both co-starring pal Ryan Gosling — Day has also written or co-written an astounding number of popular sketches since 2013, such as "Home Alone," Joker parody "Grouch," "HBO Mario Kart Trailer" starring Pedro Pascal, and "Haunted Elevator," in which Day played one of David S. Pumpkins' skeletal sidekicks.

Of working with his SNL writing partner Streeter Seidell, Day told NBC Insider they were randomly paired to share an office, sparking a creative relationship. "It was random, and that’s how the show works: You’re up late, and then we'd be like, 'sorry to bug you — do you think this is funny?' From there, just kind of worked. He’s my work wife, eleven years later," Day said.

Andrew Dismukes

Andrew Dismukes during the “Falling Down” sketch on Saturday, January 28, 2023. Photo: Jenni Pietromonaco/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 7

Andrew Dismukes has been an SNL cast member since 2020 after starting out as a writer in 2017 and earning Emmy nominations for his work in 2018 and 2019. The Texas-raised actor and stand-up comic often collaborates with fellow cast member James Austin Johnson. Dismukes' standout moments in Season 51 include his surprise singing in "Rasta Driver," and in 2026 he also appeared in Super Troopers 3.

Marcello Hernández

Marcello Hernández in Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 5

Stand-up comedian and actor Marcello Hernández joined as a Featured Player in Season 48. The Miami native has made a significant mark on the show — not only for playing everyone's favorite homewrecker Domingo and his Sebastian Maniscalco impression, but for writing on sketches like the Spanish-heavy "Protective Mom" and "Couples at the Bar." In 2026, Hernández co-starred with cast mates Ben Marshall and Kam Patterson in the Kevin Hart movie 72 Hours, and appeared in Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore 2 in 2025.

RELATED: SNL Season 51's Most-Watched Live Sketch Went Viral Internationally for Good Reason

James Austin Johnson

James Austin Johnson in Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Rosalind O'Connor/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 6

Nashville, Tennessee native James Austin Johnson was cast as a Featured Player on SNL for Season 47 after gaining fame online for his uncanny impression of President Donald Trump. The stand-up comedian, writer, and actor's other impressions include former president Joe Biden, Andrea Bocelli, Bill Walton, and Bob Dylan. His ability to parrot Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestley is equally astounding.

Colin Jost

Colin Jost appears during Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live on October 31, 2020. Photo: Kyle Dubiel/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 14

Colin Jost has worked at Saturday Night Live for 21 years (he even met his wife Scarlett Johansson on set!). An SNL writer since 2005, Jost joined the cast alongside Michael Che to become "Weekend Update" anchors in 2014. Jost has written many SNL cold opens, and made regular appearances in Season 51's as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Jost has won five Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards and has been nominated for 18 Emmys for his SNL writing. The Staten Island native earned his second consecutive Outstanding Host For A Game Show Emmy nomination in 2026 for Pop Culture Jeopardy! Jost received two Emmys in 2025 for SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

Ashley Padilla

Ashley Padilla for Saturday Night Live Season 50. Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 3

Ashley Padilla had a huge Season 51 following her debut as a Featured Player in Season 50. Her instantly-viral sketches included "Mom Confession," "Haircut," "Passing Notes," which had her helplessly giggling after the writers' switched her lines post-rehearsal, and "Kathy" with Jack Black, a performance that prompted SNL alum Robert Smigel to deem her "a miracle."

Prior to SNL, Padilla was a member of L.A.'s Groundlings Main Company from 2021-2024, and had guest roles on Night Court and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2027, she'll star in the film The Catch with Emma Stone, Chris Pine, and Chris Fleming.

Sarah Sherman

Sarah Sherman in Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 6

In her other life as a celebrated stage performer, Sarah Sherman is known to fans as Sarah Squirm — so named for her unique brand of prosthetics and fake blood-enhanced humor. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Sherman first joined SNL in Season 47.

A passionate Colin Jost-roaster on "Weekend Update," Sherman has found success on the show lending her own surreal style to sketches, working closely with SNL F/X and makeup mastermind Louie Zakarian. In Season 51, Sherman's memorable moments included her impressive "Auctioneers" sketch with Matt Damon.

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson on That's My Jam "Kenan Thompson & Big Boi vs. Kesha & Renee Elise Goldsberry" Episode. Photo: Vestal Ward/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 24

October 4, 2026 marks 23 years for Kenan Thompson as a Saturday Night Live cast member. Audiences first fell in love with the gifted sketch performer when he was a kid starring in All That and Kenan and Kel, and he made his SNL debut in Jack Black's 2003 episode.

The former child actor, star, and six-time Emmy nominee notches his 24th season this fall. During a September 2026 appearance on former coworker Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, Thompson indicated he has no plans to exit anytime soon. "I'm not afraid of how it will be when I leave. It's just that I'd much rather just stay," Thompson said, adding, "Why not? Who's writing this rule book?" Hear, hear.

Jane Wickline

Jane Wickline for Saturday Night Live Season 50. Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 3

Prior to joining SNL as a Featured Player in Season 50, Jane Wickline was known for her comedy videos on TikTok, and as a performer in the online sketch comedy show Stapleview. The Los Angeles native has performed several funny original songs on "Weekend Update," including one (kind of) in the voice of Sabrina Carpenter, and a proud anthem for chronically late people.

SNL Season 52 Featured Players

Saidah Belo-Osagie

Saidah Belo-Osagie joins the Saturday Night Live Season 52 cast.

Photo: Courtesy of Mike Klubeck

Saidah Belo-Osagie gained fandom on social media for viral comedy videos like "My impression of a yoga instructor with unrealistic modifications." Born in Queens and currently based in Brooklyn, Belo-Osagi wrote and directed the 2020 short film Tinge. She is the creator of the event series “Afrobeats Futura” and solo show “Saidah Gets Closure.”

Tommy Brennan

A portrait of Tommy Brennan for Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 2

Stand-up comedian Tommy Brennan made hisTonight Show debut in June 2025 ahead of being cast as a Featured Player several months later. The Minnesota native has made memorable visits to the "Weekend Update" desk, and was known for sketches like "Ice Skating" with Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams and "Karaoke Night" with Nikki Glaser.

Jeremy Culhane

A portrait of Jeremy Culhane for Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 2
A frequent guest on Dropout's slate of shows, Jeremy Culhane was a popular performer at the L.A. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre ahead of joining SNL as a Featured Player. Hailing from Altadena, California, Culhane also hosts the improvised Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast with fellow comedians Kylie Brakeman, Angela Giarratana, and Patrick McDonald.

In addition to starring in Season 51 sketches with comedy legends like Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy (they smooched in one, while McCarthy slathered him with Jergens in another), Culhane also broke out on "Weekend Update" with a killer Tucker Carlson impression and his original character, Mr. On Blast.

Ben Marshall

A portrait of Ben Marshall for Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 2

Ben Marshall first became known to SNL fans as one third of comedy trio Please Don't Destroy with John Higgins and Martin Herlihy (the group remains active, though Higgins and Herlihy have since left the show). An SNL writer since Season 47, Higgins officially became a cast member last season.

Kam Patterson

A portrait of Kam Patterson for Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Seasons as a cast member, including Season 52: 2

Kam Patterson is a stand-up comedian from Orlando, Florida. In addition to joining Saturday Night Live in October 2025, Patterson's expanded his resume on the big screen as well. In addition to popping up in 72 Hours with Marshall and Hernández and the film Busboys in 2026, he's also been cast in the upcoming romcom Love Love.

Grace Reiter

Grace Reiter joins the Saturday Night Live Season 52 cast.

Photo: Courtesy of Jill Petracek

Grace Reiter is known to fans of online comedy from her TikTok with 3.9 million followers, including parody trailer "The Hunger Games (but Better)."

Reiter also played Tara in SNL alum Tim Robinson's The Chair Company series, and she's also part of the cast of upcoming show Minimum Wage, in which she was also a writer and director. Grace Reiter is from Wisconsin.

Reiter has already created videos with cast member Jane Wickline when they were both performers in Stapleview sketches together.

Veronika Slowikowska

A portrait of Veronika Slowikowska for Saturday Night Live Season 51.

Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Like Jane Wickline and new castmates Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter, Veronika Slowikowska's comedy was already known to her large Instagram and TikTok following.

Learn more about Slowikowska's background here.

Who is SNL's announcer?

Darrell Hammond.

A cast member from 1995 to 2009, Darrell Hammond had the longest-running show tenure of anyone until Kenan Thompson shattered that record. In Season 40, he became Saturday Night Live's announcer following Don Pardo's death in 2014.

Darrell Hammond attends the SNL 50 Anniversary Special red carpet event on February 16, 2025.

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/NBC

Watch Saturday Night Live Season 52 at 11:30 ET/10:30 C/8:30 PT on NBC and Peacock, streaming next-day on Peacock.

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