SNL final – Season 51’s last three “Saturday Night Live” episodes are set for May 2, May 9 and May 16—Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Damon with Noah Kahan, and Will Ferrell with Paul McCartney.
“Saturday Night Live” is heading into its final stretch of Season 51, and the last three episodes have the kind of star power that turns casual viewers into couch watchers.
Misryoum has the lineup and the key details for what’s coming next—plus what these final hosts and musical guests signal about where the show is placing its attention as it winds down for the summer.
Olivia Rodrigo opens the season finale run on May 2
On May 2, Olivia Rodrigo will take the stage as both host and musical guest.. It marks her hosting debut. and it also continues a familiar pattern for the show’s later-season bookings: pairing an attention-grabbing pop moment with a host who can move fluidly between comedy timing and performance energy.
Rodrigo’s music is already deeply woven into mainstream culture. and her appearance arrives just ahead of her third studio album release on June 12.. For “SNL,” that timing matters.. A fresh album cycle gives the show a ready-made narrative—new songs. new visuals. and an audience primed to react—while also offering Rodrigo a high-visibility platform that tends to translate beyond existing fan bases.
Matt Damon returns with Noah Kahan on May 9
The following week, May 9, Matt Damon will host for the third time, with singer-songwriter Noah Kahan as the musical guest.. This episode lands before Damon’s leading role in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” reaches theaters in July—another example of “SNL” using high-profile schedules to create momentum.
Kahan, meanwhile, will be making his second appearance as a musical guest.. His earlier presence on the show helped establish him as more than a one-off booking. and his return suggests Misryoum readers can expect a performance that’s likely to feel grounded in live-song storytelling rather than purely theatrical spectacle.
There’s also a broader entertainment rhythm to this pairing.. Damon brings recognizable comedic familiarity—he knows how to work within “SNL’s” fast-turn structure—while Kahan’s mainstream reach has grown without losing the intimate tone that made him stand out in the first place.. Together. the booking looks designed to widen the audience: comedy fans in the building. plus music listeners curious about how a quieter artist will be staged on a sketch comedy stage.
Will Ferrell hosts the Season 51 finale with Paul McCartney on May 16
For the finale on May 16, Will Ferrell returns to host, and Paul McCartney will perform as the musical guest. It’s Ferrell’s sixth time hosting, but his first time since 2019—so the show isn’t just closing the season, it’s bringing back one of its most dependable comedic forces.
McCartney’s appearance is equally significant.. It will be his fifth time as an “SNL” musical guest. and he’s a name that carries cultural weight across generations.. That blend—Ferrell’s chaos-meets-heart energy paired with McCartney’s legendary musical presence—reads like an intentional “big close. ” the kind of finale that’s meant to be discussed the next morning.
Ferrell’s return also hits a classic “SNL” theme: legacy meets renewal. As the show evolves, it still leans on hosts who can confidently hit exaggerated characters, rapid-fire escalation, and tight comedic structure—skills Ferrell has repeatedly demonstrated on the show.
Misryoum will be watching how the episode balances nostalgia and present-day relevance. Paul McCartney’s new album, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” arrives May 29, which means the performance can act as both a finale moment and a bridge into what comes after the season ends.
A short break and a rerun this weekend
There won’t be a new “SNL” episode this Saturday, April 18. The show is taking a brief two-week hiatus before returning to air the final three installments starting May 2.
This weekend’s programming will be a rerun—an in-between moment that often makes the next new episode feel even bigger when it finally lands.. For viewers who plan their evenings around live TV. the gap also creates a clear window to build anticipation: audiences know the season doesn’t just continue. it resets and then finishes.
When to watch the final episodes
The last three “Saturday Night Live” episodes air on Saturday nights at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and they stream the next day on Peacock. Earlier “SNL” episodes are also available on Peacock for viewers who want to catch up before the finale run.
What the final lineup suggests about Season 51’s strategy
Taken together, the final booking choices point to a simple idea: “SNL” is aiming for a three-part landing—first with a major pop star hosting debut, then with a mainstream film actor returning alongside a rising music talent, and ending with a comedy institution and an all-time music icon.
That structure matters because it mirrors how viewers experience the show today.. Some tune in for sketches and celebrity hosting.. Others show up for performances that feel event-level.. Misryoum readers will likely notice the show isn’t leaving those audiences to chance—it’s designing the season’s finish so each episode has a distinct “hook” that can pull in different viewer groups.
And as the curtain falls on Season 51. this last run also functions as a signal for what “SNL” will prioritize when it returns: hosts who can carry both comedy and spectacle. musical guests with broad cultural reach. and a finale that’s built for replayability—because the internet rarely lets “SNL” moments stay in the night they first happen.
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