Saturday Night Live is starting 2026 with fresh energy — and a familiar face from pop culture’s biggest decade-spanning hit. Finn Wolfhard is set to make his SNL hosting debut on January 17, marking the show’s first episode after its Christmas break, with A$AP Rocky taking the stage as musical guest.
The announcement was revealed during SNL’s festive holiday episode, hosted by Ariana Grande with Cher as the night’s musical guest.
A First-Time Host, a Long-Time SNL Connection
While this will be Wolfhard’s first time hosting the iconic NBC sketch show, his connection to SNL runs deeper than fans might expect. The Stranger Things star previously appeared in Jason Reitman’s film Saturday Night, where he played an NBC page during the chaotic first-ever broadcast of SNL back in October 1975.
That behind-the-scenes experience clearly left an impression.
During promotions for the film, Wolfhard revealed that if given the chance, he’d love to bring back one of the show’s cult-favourite sketches — the Underground Rock Festival bit, originally performed by Jason Sudeikis and Nasim Pedrad.
According to Wolfhard, the sketch’s charm lies in its absurdity — fake metal festivals, ridiculous band names, and over-the-top promo segments — something he feels would land perfectly with today’s audience.
A$AP Rocky Steps Into a New SNL Role
For A$AP Rocky, the January 17 episode marks his first official appearance as SNL’s musical guest. While he briefly appeared in a cameo during a 2018 episode hosted by Donald Glover, this will be his full musical debut on the legendary stage.
The pairing of Wolfhard and Rocky already has fans buzzing, with expectations of a mix of nostalgic comedy and high-energy musical performance.
Coming Off a Major Farewell
Wolfhard’s SNL hosting gig comes at a symbolic moment. The actor has just wrapped filming Stranger Things, with the Netflix series’ final episode scheduled to air on New Year’s Eve. Hosting SNL shortly after feels like a cultural handoff — closing one era while stepping confidently into the next phase of his career.
Final Words
With Finn Wolfhard hosting and A$AP Rocky performing, Saturday Night Live’s first episode of 2026 is shaping up to be both nostalgic and forward-looking. Between Wolfhard’s love for classic SNL sketches and Rocky’s long-awaited musical spotlight, January 17 looks set to be a strong, conversation-starting return for the iconic show.
