The SNL ticket lottery provides much-desired access to Studio 8H and all of the hysterics that come along with it.
The iconic sketch comedy series just celebrated its golden anniversary with plenty of notable moments — the return of OG cast members, Timothée Chalamet double duty, a Bad Bunny performance, and but of course, Domingo. (If you know, you know.)
Now, one year later, Season 51 will kick off on Saturday, October 4th, and the first batch of hosts and musical guests have been revealed.
For more on tickets and what’s ahead, here’s the scoop.
When is the SNL ticket lottery?
August was the prime time to snag a spot: The lottery opened at 12am ET on August 1st, 2025 and ran until 11:59pm ET on August 31st, 2025.
How do you enter the SNL ticket lottery?
*FYI the ticket lottery is now closed*
According to NBC, interested attendees need to send an email to SNLTICKETS@NBCUNI.COM with your first and last name and a reason why you want to be part of the audience — which undoubtedly will leave you with plenty of writing material.
A few housekeeping rules:
- Submissions that arrive before or after the deadline will not be considered
- No one under 16 is permitted (proper i.d. will be required)
- If you win, you’ll receive a set number of tickets for a random show date and time
- Entering the lottery does not guarantee tickets
How many tickets do you get if you win the SNL lottery?
According to the NBC website, “If you are selected, you will receive a set number of tickets for a random show date and time. Entering the lottery does not guarantee tickets, and you will only be notified in the event that you are chosen.”
Is there a standby line for SNL?
If you are going the standby route, there are a few things to note: standby cards will be handed out at 12:01 ET on Saturdays of the show. You can make standby reservations online. Hey, it’s worth a try!
For standby tickets:
- Step 1: Venture to the SNL standby ticket reservation link, which goes live on Thursdays at 10am ET the week of a show
- You can request up to four tickets — which are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis — for either the dress rehearsal or actual show
- If you receive a confirmation email — which can take up to several hours — your entire party must check in to the in-person standby line between 6-7pm at the W. 49th Street NBC Studios marquee on the Friday before show day. Photo I.D. is required, and reservations are non-transferable, so anyone in your party who’s not there will forfeit their reservation.
- Find your numerically-assigned place in line outside 30 Rock and be patient!
More details about the standby process are available on the NBC website.
Can you visit SNL set?
If you can’t get tickets to a show, you can still get a sneak peek at Studio 8H. The Tour at NBC Studios allows guests to visit the locales where their go-to shows are made: SNL, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and more. Tours book about a month in advance.
Are SNL tickets free?
Yes, SNL tickets are free, but keep in mind: you’re not able to select dates and times, so you’ll need to be flexible. (Though we suspect you’ll abandon all Saturday plans for this opportunity, as would we.)
We’ll keep our fingers crossed that you’re lucky enough to hear “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’ in person. Learn more about the lottery process on the NBC website.
How hard is it to get an SNL ticket?
NBC coins SNL as “one of the toughest tickets in town to score” so your best bet will be to follow the lottery rules detailed above and/or try your hand at standby tickets.
A deep dive into season 51
The new season kicks off on Saturday, October 4th. See what’s cookin’ on the first three weekends of the show:
- Saturday, October 4th: Bad Bunny & Doja Cat
- Saturday, October 11th: Amy Poehler & Role Model
- Saturday, October 18th: Sabrina Carpenter (Double duty!)
Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow have parted ways with the show, but newcomersBen Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska will join the sketch comedy series.
Will you try for tickets this year, or are you comfy watching the hysterics from home?
