Matt Damon Hosts SNL Season 51 Penultimate Episode

Actor Matt Damon hosted the penultimate episode of Saturday Night Live's 51st season on Saturday, May 9, 2026, with folk singer-songwriter Noah Kahan as musical guest. The live broadcast aired at 11:30 p.m. ET from NBC's Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center.

Damon, marking his third time hosting the long-running comedy series, joined cast members for a midweek read-through that included a promotional sketch. In the bit, Damon encountered performers Sarah Sherman and Jeremy Culhane brainstorming sketch ideas on a whiteboard, referencing his 1997 film Good Will Hunting amid absurd concepts like a "bisexual cigarette talk show" and a "stoner carrot" in a casino hospital.

The episode followed Olivia Rodrigo's double-duty appearance as host and musical guest the previous week, which featured sketches such as "My Room" and rookie cast member Kam Patterson's third consecutive Weekend Update segment. Season 51 concludes next week on May 16 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney.

Damon, a Cambridge, Massachusetts native, has a storied history with the show spanning nearly three decades. His first hosting gig came in 2002 for the Season 28 premiere alongside...