Season Premiere
Where to Watch ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 52 Premiere Online for Free Without Cable
The king of New York, Jalen Brunson, will take on hosting duties for the first episode of the season, joined by musical guest Katseye
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September 26, 2026
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Live from New York: We’re back! Saturday Night Live returns tonight for Season 52 after a five-month hiatus, and Studio 8H is prepping for a massive start. New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson will host the late-night sketch comedy show for the first time, joined by musical guest Katseye.
Premiering on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET, SNL Season 52 is still easy to watch if you don’t have access to a traditional cable subscription. You can stream the first episode of the season with a service like DirecTV, which offers a five-day free trial and is quick to sign up for.
You can also opt for a Fubo subscription, which includes a free trial, or go straight to the source with NBC’s streaming service Peacock. The latter doesn’t offer a free trial, but plans start at less than $13 a month.
At a Glance: Where to Watch Saturday Night Live Season 52 Online for Free Without Cable
- Stream: DirecTV, Fubo, Peacock, Sling
- TV channel: NBC
- Premiere date, time: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET
Fans can also go with a Sling subscription, another option that doesn’t offer a free trial but is a solid alternative if you want to keep watching SNL for the rest of the season — or if you’re a football enthusiast looking for a convenient way to stream many of this season’s games.
There have been a few shakeups over at 30 Rock recently, with longtime cast members like Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy departing the show. Bowen Yang left in the middle of last season and is currently playing the title role in Oh, Mary! on Broadway (you can find out how to get tickets here). New additions to the iconic crew include Grace Reiter, a comedian and TikTok star, and Saodah Belo-Osagie, a native New Yorker, who will get their shot on the Emmy-winning series.
Where to Watch Saturday Night Live Season 52 Online for Free Without Cable
If you want to watch the Saturday Night Live Season 52 premiere, one of the easiest ways to do so is with a free trial to DirecTV. Below, we break down how to sign up for the service, along with some of our other favorite platforms for tuning into the new season.
Editor’s Pick
DirecTV
➤ $44.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels
DirecTV is our top pick for watching SNL Season 52 online. The streamer carries NBC in a few packages, including the affordable MyNews plan, which costs just $44.99 a month and starts with a five-day free trial.
Free trial
Fubo
➤ $88.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 400+ channels
Fubo also carries NBC for SNL Season 52 livestreams. You’ll need the Fubo Pro plan or higher to get NBC streams. Pro costs $88.99 a month, but you get a five-day free trial and $30 off your first month.
most affordable
Peacock
➤ $12.99/month
➤ On-demand and live content
Fans can also stream SNL on Peacock. This one is much more affordable at $12.99 a month for the Premium plan (you’ll need this to watch live NBC), but it doesn’t offer a free trial.
best for long-term
Sling
➤ $45.99/month
➤ Up to 46 channels
Sling is another option for cord-cutters looking to watch SNL Season 52 online. You’ll need the Sling Blue plan to get access to NBC. This plan starts at $45.99 a month. Sling does not currently offer a free trial.
Livestream SNL Episodes for Free
Want to watch SNL Season 52 for free? Take advantage of the five-day free trials from DirecTV and Fubo.
SNL Season 52 Cast Members
Some big changes have been made for SNL Season 52. Two cast members were replaced, with Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy both leaving ahead of the new season. New faces include Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter.
SNL Season 52 Premiere Date, Time
Saturday Night Live Season 52 premieres Sept. 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
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