Saturday Night Live closes out its Season 51 run on Saturday, May 16, with a finale that pairs comedy icon Will Ferrell with musical guest Paul McCartney. The broadcast airs live from Studio 8H at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock, marking the 20th episode of the season and the final new installment before the show returns in the fall.
SNL Season 51 Finale: Air Date, Time, and Streaming Details
The Season 51 finale of SNL airs on May 16, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. CT / 8:30 p.m. PT. NBC will carry the live broadcast, while Peacock will stream both the live episode and next-day replay.
This season concludes a 20-episode run that started in October 2025. The finale continues that pattern by pairing a veteran comedy host with one of the most influential songwriters in modern music history.
Who Is Hosting the SNL Season 51 Finale?
Will Ferrell returns to Studio 8H for his sixth time as host, reinforcing his long-standing relationship with the show’s most era-defining sketches.
Earlier promotional material teased callbacks to classic SNL characters and a series of live sketches built around music-industry satire, setting the tone for a finale designed around maximal audience recognition and cross-generational appeal.
Paul McCartney as Musical Guest: A Historic Return to Studio 8H
Paul McCartney takes the stage as musical guest, extending a relationship with SNL that dates back to Season 5, when he performed “Coming Up” alongside Linda McCartney. His return in 2026 places him back in Studio 8H during a moment of renewed recording activity and archival celebration.
McCartney has spent the last month accelerating his release cycle. On May 8, 2026, he and Ringo Starr issued “Home to Us,” a rare vocal duet that also includes backing vocals from Chrissie Hynde and Sharleen Spiteri. The track serves as the second preview of his upcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, following “Days We Left Behind,” which re-centered attention on his autobiographical songwriting approach.
How to Watch Paul McCartney and Geese on SNL Tonight
Viewers can watch SNL live on NBC or stream it on Peacock at the scheduled broadcast time. International availability may vary depending on regional licensing, with select clips typically uploaded to official SNL channels shortly after airing.
Photo: SNL/YouTube
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