Is SNL New Tonight? Your Ultimate Guide To The December 2025 Christmas Finale And Mid-Season Break
The burning question for comedy fans on Friday, December 19, 2025, is whether the legendary sketch comedy series, Saturday Night Live (SNL), will be airing a new episode tonight. The short answer is no, as the show traditionally airs live on Saturdays. However, this weekend marks one of the most anticipated episodes of the season—the massive Christmas finale before the show enters its extended mid-season hiatus. Fans should tune in tomorrow night, Saturday, December 20, for a star-studded send-off that promises to be packed with holiday-themed sketches and surprise celebrity cameos.
The entire cast and crew of SNL, helmed by creator Lorne Michaels, are currently preparing for the final show of the calendar year, a highly-publicized event that will close out the first half of the monumental Season 51. The episode features an iconic combination of pop culture royalty, ensuring that the last new installment of 2025 will be a must-watch event before the show goes into reruns for the holiday season and the first few weeks of the new year.
The Next New Episode: Ariana Grande, Cher, and the Christmas Finale
While there is no new episode on Friday, December 19, 2025, the wait is only a few hours. The next new episode of Saturday Night Live, Season 51, Episode 10, is scheduled to air live coast-to-coast on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock. This episode serves as the highly anticipated Christmas episode and the mid-season finale.
The show's producers have lined up two major global superstars for this festive send-off, guaranteeing a massive ratings night and a memorable end to the year's live broadcasts from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center.
Host Biography: Ariana Grande
- Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
- Date of Birth: June 26, 1993
- Age: 32 (as of Dec 2025)
- Birthplace: Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress
- SNL History: Grande previously hosted and served as the musical guest in 2016, showcasing her impressive singing and comedic impersonation skills. Her return to the hosting role is a major event for the show.
- Recent Projects: Her recent work includes the highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical Wicked, where she plays Glinda the Good Witch, and her new album releases.
- Hosting Role: This marks Grande's second time hosting the show, an impressive feat for any celebrity, especially one known primarily as a musical artist. Her comedic timing is expected to be on full display in the final sketches of the year.
Musical Guest Biography: Cher
- Full Name: Cherilyn Sarkisian
- Date of Birth: May 20, 1946
- Age: 79 (as of Dec 2025)
- Birthplace: El Centro, California, U.S.
- Occupation: Singer, Actress, Television Personality
- SNL History: Cher has appeared on SNL multiple times over the decades, both as a host and musical guest, a testament to her enduring cultural relevance.
- Iconic Status: Known as the "Goddess of Pop," Cher's appearance is a major coup for the show, bringing an unparalleled level of legendary status to the Studio 8H stage.
- Anticipation: Fans are eager to see if Cher will participate in any sketches, perhaps a cameo in a *Weekend Update* segment or a holiday skit, though she is officially listed as the musical guest.
The combination of a modern pop icon and a timeless legend is a classic SNL move to maximize viewership for their mid-season finale. The episode is expected to feature a cold open addressing the current political climate, a celebrity-filled monologue, and a variety of sketches that will inevitably go viral on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok over the holiday break.
SNL’s Mid-Season Hiatus and Season 51 Return Date
Following the spectacular Christmas finale on December 20, 2025, Saturday Night Live will enter its traditional extended mid-season hiatus. This break is a standard part of the show’s grueling production cycle, giving the writers, cast, and crew a much-needed rest over the holidays and allowing Lorne Michaels and the production team to plan the second half of Season 51.
During the hiatus, NBC will air reruns of classic and popular episodes from the current season, including the recent installments hosted by Melissa McCarthy (with musical guest Dijon) and Josh O'Connor (with musical guest Lily Allen). This period of reruns typically lasts for several weeks, covering the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
When Will SNL Return in 2026?
While the official return date for the second half of Season 51 is often announced during the December finale, historical trends provide a strong indication of when fans can expect new episodes. Historically, SNL returns from its Christmas break:
- Usually on the last Saturday of January or the first Saturday of February.
- This pattern suggests a likely return date of January 24, 2026, or January 31, 2026, for the first new episode of the new year.
The show's return is always a highly anticipated event, often featuring a host with a major new movie or television show release to promote. The winter and spring months of the season often feature some of the most memorable sketches as the cast settles into their roles and the writers hit their stride.
Where and How to Watch Saturday Night Live
For fans who want to catch the Christmas finale live, or who are looking to stream episodes during the mid-season break, Saturday Night Live offers multiple viewing options across both traditional television and digital streaming platforms.
Live Broadcast on NBC
The primary way to watch SNL is on its long-time home, the NBC Television Network. The show airs live at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and 10:30 p.m. Central Time (CT). For viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones, the show is broadcast simultaneously with the Eastern/Central feed, meaning it airs at 9:30 p.m. MT and 8:30 p.m. PT, ensuring everyone gets the live experience at the same time.
Streaming on Peacock
For viewers who have cut the cord or prefer on-demand access, the best option is Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service. Peacock offers the following benefits for SNL fans:
- Live Streaming: The episodes are streamed live on Peacock at the same time as the NBC broadcast, making it an excellent alternative for cable subscribers.
- On-Demand Access: New episodes are available to stream on-demand the next day, allowing fans to catch up on any sketches they missed or rewatch their favorite moments.
- Full SNL Library: Peacock is also the exclusive streaming home for the entire SNL library, allowing fans to binge-watch all 50+ seasons of the show, from the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" to the current cast members like Michael Che, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, and Chloe Fineman.
Catching Up on Viral Sketches
Even if you miss the full episode, the most popular sketches, the host monologue, and the iconic *Weekend Update* segments are quickly uploaded to the official Saturday Night Live YouTube channel. This is often the fastest way to catch the viral moments that everyone will be talking about the next day.
Topical Authority and Season 51 Entities
Season 51 has been a strong year for SNL, maintaining its cultural relevance under the watchful eye of executive producer Lorne Michaels. The show's success relies on a talented ensemble cast and a sharp writers' room.
Key entities and cast members who have been driving the show's success this season include:
- The Core Ensemble: Long-time players like Kenan Thompson and Kate McKinnon (who made a surprise cameo earlier this season) continue to anchor the show, alongside current favorites such as Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, and Bowen Yang.
- Weekend Update Anchors: Michael Che and Colin Jost continue their tenure as the hosts of the show's most consistent segment, often generating the most buzz with their politically charged and socially relevant jokes.
- Newcomers: The infusion of new talent, including Season 51 additions like Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, and Veronika Slowikowska, keeps the humor fresh and diverse, ensuring the show evolves with the current comedy landscape.
- The Venue: The show's home, Studio 8H in the Comcast Building (formerly the GE Building) at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, remains a central part of the show's identity and history.
The upcoming Christmas finale, with the star power of Ariana Grande and Cher, is the perfect capstone to a successful first half of Season 51. While the answer to "is SNL new tonight" is technically no, the anticipation for tomorrow night's show and the impending mid-season break means that Saturday Night Live remains at the center of the pop culture conversation.
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