Dakota Johnson once told Jimmy Fallon that hosting Saturday Night Live made her want to quit acting and join the cast. On Saturday, October 3, she gets her third shot at Studio 8H, this time with Grammy-winning Baltimore rockers Turnstile making their very first SNL appearance.
If you are wondering what is on SNL this week, here is the full rundown: who is hosting, who is performing, what you missed in last week’s Season 52 premiere, the cast shake-up, the next hosts on the calendar and exactly how to watch live or stream it the next day.
SNL This Week: Dakota Johnson Hosts on October 3
The October 3 show is the second episode of Season 52. According to NBC’s official host announcement, it is Johnson’s third time hosting.
Her track record on the show:
- First time: February 28, 2015, in Season 40
- Second time: January 27, 2024, in Season 49
- Third time: October 3, 2026, in Season 52
She has popped up in between, too. NBC notes she appeared on the SNL 40th Anniversary Special and made a surprise cameo during a December 2025 episode, crashing musical guest Lily Allen’s performance mid-song.
Johnson clearly loves the gig. Talking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in 2024 about her first hosting stint, she said: “I loved it so much that I was like, ‘I’ll do this. I’ll just be on the cast! I’ll quit my job and just do this every day.'”
There is also some family history here. Her mother, Melanie Griffith, hosted SNL back in Season 14 in 1988. Past Johnson sketches that fans still bring up include her “Roast” with Please Don’t Destroy and the “Big Dumb Cups” sketch.
How Close Is She to the Five-Timers Club?
Not quite there yet. After Saturday, Johnson will be two episodes shy of the famous Five-Timers Club, the honor Tom Hanks made iconic. For perspective, NBC lists Alec Baldwin as the all-time record holder with 17 hosting gigs, followed by Steve Martin at 16 and John Goodman at 13. At her current pace of one return every few years, Johnson has some work to do, but a third invite is a strong sign the show likes having her back.
Why Dakota Johnson Is Everywhere This Week
The timing is not an accident. Johnson’s new movie, Verity, opens in theaters today, Friday, October 2. The R-rated Colleen Hoover thriller from director Michael Showalter co-stars Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, and Amazon MGM Studios is releasing it in the U.S. and Canada.
Hosting SNL on opening weekend is a classic promo move, so do not be surprised if Verity gets a nod in the monologue. For the full breakdown of the movie, check our Verity release date and cast guide.
Johnson is also fresh off a music-video moment. NBC Insider reports she co-stars with Colin Farrell in Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” video, released September 27. On the Verity red carpet in London, she told reporters that working with Swift “was just the best.”
Who Is the SNL Musical Guest This Week? Turnstile
The musical guest on SNL this week is Turnstile, the Baltimore band that has become one of rock’s biggest live draws. It is their SNL debut.
Quick facts, per NBC Insider:
- Grammy winners: Turnstile won two Grammys at the 68th Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026: Best Rock Album for NEVER ENOUGH and Best Metal Performance for “BIRDS.”
- The lineup: Brendan Yates (vocals), Franz Lyons (bass), Daniel Fang (drums), Pat McCrory (guitar) and Meg Mills (guitar). Mills joined on tour in 2023, replacing founding member Brady Ebert.
- On Meg Mills: “She’s an incredible guitar player, amazing to be around, a great songwriter, a great teammate, a great friend,” Yates told Consequence in 2025, as quoted by NBC.
- The sound: Melodic hardcore at the core, with punk, metal, alternative and pop mixed in.
- A rock rarity: NBC says Turnstile is the first rock band on SNL since Gorillaz played Ryan Gosling’s March 7 episode in Season 51.
The band is also in the middle of its “NEVER ENOUGH TOUR PT. 2” across North America, which kicked off September 9 in Milwaukee, according to Consequence. If you have never seen a Turnstile show, expect energy. Lots of it.
What Happened in the SNL Season 52 Premiere
Missed last week? Season 52 opened on September 26 with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson hosting and girl group KATSEYE as musical guest. Brunson, who led the Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973 in June, became the first NBA player to host since LeBron James in 2007, per NBC.
The highlights, according to Boston.com’s recap and NBC:
- Cold open: Ramy Youssef returned as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, opposite James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump.
- Monologue: Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart joined Brunson on stage.
- Sketches: A High School Musical parody called “North High” and a “Dream Academy” sketch with KATSEYE and new cast member Grace Reiter.
- Weekend Update: Jeremy Culhane brought back his Tucker Carlson impression.
The reviews were mixed on the host himself. Boston.com’s Kevin Slane wrote that athletes rarely make the best hosts and that Brunson even admitted his delivery was a bit wooden, though the hometown crowd was forgiving. The cold open was singled out as a highlight.
SNL Season 52 Cast Changes
If the cast looks a little different on SNL this week, here is why:
- New featured players: Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter joined the cast, announced September 16. Reiter, born in 2001, is the first cast member born in the 2000s.
- Promotions: Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline moved up to repertory status.
- Departures: Chloe Fineman left this summer after seven seasons. Writer and Please Don’t Destroy member Martin Herlihy also left after five seasons. Bowen Yang departed midway through Season 51.
- Staying put: Colin Jost and Michael Che are back at the Weekend Update desk, where they have anchored since Season 40. And NBC notes that October 4, the day after Johnson’s episode, marks the start of Kenan Thompson’s record 23rd year on the show.
How to Watch SNL This Week Live (and Stream It Later)
Here is how to catch the October 3 episode, per NBC’s official viewing guide:
- Live on TV: NBC, Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. PT). SNL airs live coast to coast, so West Coast viewers see it at the same moment as New York.
- Live streaming: The show simulcasts on Peacock. Live access to your local NBC station is a feature of Peacock’s Premium Plus tier.
- Next day: The full episode hits Peacock on Sunday, and Peacock streams the entire SNL back catalog.
- Free clips: Sketches and musical performances typically go up on SNL’s official YouTube channel after the show.
Want to be in the room? NBC runs a standby ticket system for each Season 52 episode. Check NBC’s SNL ticket page for the current rules, because spots are limited and go fast.
Upcoming SNL Hosts for Season 52
After SNL this week, here is what NBC has announced so far:
| Date | Host | Musical guest |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26 | Jalen Brunson | KATSEYE |
| Oct. 3 | Dakota Johnson | Turnstile |
| Oct. 10 | Shane Gillis | Rosalía |
| Oct. 31 | Inde Navarrette | Gracie Abrams |
Notice the gap: no new episodes are listed for October 17 or 24, so after Gillis the show takes a short break before Obsession breakout Inde Navarrette hosts the Halloween episode on Halloween itself. NBC says Gillis, a stand-up who stars in Tires, will be hosting for the third time.
The Bottom Line
Here is your quick game plan for SNL this week:
- Set a reminder for Saturday, October 3 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC or Peacock.
- Catch up first. Watch the premiere’s cold open and “North High” on Peacock or YouTube so the new cast feels familiar.
- Make it a Dakota weekend. See Verity in theaters, then watch her host.
- Cue up Turnstile. Give NEVER ENOUGH a spin before the show if you are new to the band.
Looking for more to watch? Our Fall 2026 TV guide covers the new and returning shows worth your time, and the New TV This Week roundup lists every premiere through October 4. Bookmark USA One News for weekly SNL host updates all season.
