Ariana Grande To Host Saturday Night Live With Cher As Musical Guest

Tonight marks the final Saturday Night Live broadcast of the calendar year, a holiday‑season edition of the long‑running sketch comedy show that has been a fixture of American late‑night television since 1975. SNL airs live at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time from Studio 8H in New York City. This episode brings together two prominent entertainers and serves as both seasonal entertainment and a notable moment in the show’s current season.

Ariana Grande, the singer and actor whose career has spanned pop music and film, is scheduled to serve as host. For Grande, this is her third time in that role and her fifth overall appearance on SNL, a platform she first visited as a musical guest earlier in her career. Her hosting duties coincide with her involvement in the Wicked: For Good film series, which has kept her in the public eye throughout the year. Cher, the music and cultural figure whose career stretches back decades, will be the show’s musical guest. Her appearance on SNL reunites her with the broadcast more than three decades after her first performance on the show in 1987.

For viewers without traditional cable television, there are still avenues to watch the show live for free or at no additional cost beyond a temporary subscription. NBC broadcasts SNL nationwide on Saturday nights. In addition, the NBC‑owned streaming service Peacock makes new episodes available on its platform, often by the following morning for on‑demand viewing. Peacock offers a free trial period for its Premium tier, which allows subscribers to stream new episodes shortly after they air. Another option is to sign up for a free trial with a live TV streaming service that includes NBC in its lineup; these services typically provide a short promotional trial that can be used to access SNL and other live network programming.

Saturday Night Live remains a cultural touchstone. The show’s format blends comedy sketches, pre‑taped segments, and musical performances, often reflecting on current events and cultural trends with a rolling cast of performers. Over its more than five decades on the air, SNL has become a platform where musicians, actors, and comedians intersect, and where moments from live television can enter the broader public conversation. Tonight’s episode continues that tradition with Grande’s blend of music and comedy experience and Cher’s legacy as a recording artist.

In addition to the featured performers, tonight’s broadcast carries extra significance for the show’s cast. Longtime cast member Bowen Yang is appearing in his final episode after a seven‑year tenure that began with his hiring as a writer and featured player. His departure represents one of several shifts in the show’s lineup this season, as SNL continues to bring in new talent while longtime performers move on to other endeavors. Tonight’s broadcast is billed not only as a holiday edition but as a farewell moment in Yang’s SNL journey.

As is customary for Saturday Night Live, the broadcast will mix comedic sketches with featured musical numbers from Cher. Expect the show’s traditional structure: an opening monologue from the host, a series of pre‑taped and live in‑studio bits, and musical performances spaced throughout the program. Over the decades, SNL has introduced audiences to iconic characters, launched careers, and invited both acclaim and controversy for its choices. Its seasonal live episode tonight reflects the continuing role it plays as a shared weekly experience for late‑night audiences.

The availability of free viewing options reflects how television distribution has evolved in recent years. While SNL airs traditionally on broadcast television, streaming services have made the program accessible beyond live broadcast times. For those outside the Eastern and Pacific time zones, live broadcasting allows viewers to tune in simultaneously with audiences across the country. The streaming availability on Peacock also allows audiences to watch at their convenience, further widening the reach of a program that once existed only in late‑night lineups.

Looking ahead, SNL is set to return after a brief hiatus in mid‑January 2026 with a new lineup of hosts and musical guests. Tonight’s broadcast closes out this portion of Season 51 on a note that mixes celebration, farewell, and live entertainment. Whether longtime fans tune in for the performances or viewers sample the show for the first time, it remains a moment that underscores the enduring nature of network television and the role of live broadcast in American cultural life.

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