Is SNL new tonight? July 18's host and musical guest
No, SNL tonight is not a new episode — NBC is re-airing the May 9 Season 51 installment hosted by Matt Damon with musical guest Noah Kahan. The sketch comedy staple is on summer hiatus, so the July 18 broadcast is a repeat on NBC and Peacock at the usual late-night slot.
Key Takeaways
- Saturday Night Live on July 18 is a repeat, not a new live show.
- Matt Damon hosts the rebroadcast, with Noah Kahan as musical guest.
- The episode originally aired May 9 during Season 51.
- Tune in at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, or stream on Peacock.
- New SNL episodes are expected to return in the fall.
Is Saturday Night Live new on July 18?
According to NBC Insider, there is no new episode of Saturday Night Live airing July 18, 2026. The series is in its annual summer hiatus after Season 51 wrapped.
The season finale aired May 16 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney. Fresh episodes are set to resume in the fall, which is why summer Saturdays are filled with reruns for fans catching up via Streaming & TV Alerts.
Who is hosting SNL tonight, and who is the musical guest?
Matt Damon is hosting tonight's rebroadcast. The May 9 episode is airing again on NBC and streaming on Peacock, NBC confirmed.
Noah Kahan returns as the musical guest for his second appearance on the show. Yahoo Entertainment similarly reported that Damon hosts and Kahan performs on the July 18 rerun.
In the episode, Damon revived his Justice Brett Kavanaugh impression — first seen in 2018 — opposite Aziz Ansari as Kash Patel. Sketches also included viral bits like "Godzilla Movie," "Auctioneers," and the parody commercial "Tidy Care Crystals."
What time is SNL on, and where can you watch?
SNL airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. CT / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC. Yahoo lists the start as 11:29 p.m. ET — the standard network late-night slot.
You can also stream the episode on Peacock. Yahoo notes the show is available to watch as it airs on the streamer, making it easy to catch Damon's hosting turn again while The Odyssey hits theaters.
Why does this July 18 rerun matter right now?
Damon's monologue teased The Odyssey, joking the Christopher Nolan epic would arrive "nine weekends from now" in mid-July. That window has arrived: the film opened July 17, starring Damon alongside Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and more.
For viewers who missed May 9 the first time, tonight is a timely chance to revisit the episode during the summer break — even if SNL tonight is not live from Studio 8H.