Saturday Night Live Season 51 Ranks as #1 Comedy in 18–49, Delivers Breakout Growth Across Platforms
'Saturday Night Live' continued its success with top broadcast rankings, audience growth, and record-breaking digital engagement in Season 51.
June 03, 2026
Host Will Ferrell during SNL Monologue on Saturday, May 16, 2026 (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC)
After adding five new cast members, winning 12 Emmy Awards and launching the British adaptation SNL UK, Saturday Night Live (SNL) closed its milestone 51st season with standout performance across broadcast, streaming, and social platforms.
SNL remains the #1 comedy in key demo
Season 51 ranked as the #1 broadcast comedy series among adults 18–49, marking the seventh consecutive season SNL has led all comedies in the key demographic.
Among all broadcast entertainment programming, the series ranked:
- #2 in the 18–49 demo
- #2 in total viewers
Anchor Colin Jost and anchor Michael Che during Weekend Update (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC)
Continued Audience Growth Across Seasons
Saturday Night Live saw sustained viewership growth in Season 51 (excluding the 50th anniversary season), continuing its upward trajectory:
- +6% in total viewers vs. Season 49
- +5% in total viewers vs. Season 48
SNL Season 51's Biggest Episodes
Season 51 featured several high-impact episodes that captured massive audiences and social engagement
- The Dec. 20 telecast with host Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher delivered 10.1 million viewers across platforms, making it the most-watched episode of the season. The same episode was also the most socially viewed telecast.
- The most-viewed sketch of the season across social platforms was “El Chavo Del Ocho” on the Oct. 4 season premiere.
- The Oct. 4 season premiere, hosted by Bad Bunny with musical guest Doja Cat, was the most-watched episode on Peacock.
- The May 17 season finale with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney saw a 9% increase in total viewers compared to the 2025 season finale.
These tentpole moments highlight the show’s ability to generate real-time cultural conversation and cross-platform momentum.
Musical guest Cher, host Ariana Grande, and Bowen Yang during SNL Promos (Photo by: Rosalind O’Connor/NBC)
Record-Breaking Digital and Social Performance
Season 51 marked a significant leap in SNL’s digital footprint, with strong engagement across Peacock, YouTube, and social platforms.
- 8.2 billion video views across the season, a 98% increase year over year (up from 4.2 billion)
Where to watch SNL season 51
All episodes of SNL season 51 are now streaming on Peacock.
