Saturday Night Live returned for 2026 with Finn Wolfhard making his hosting debut, joined by musical guest A$AP Rocky, as the long-running NBC show resumed after the winter break with a confident and energetic episode.

Wolfhard, fresh from the final season of Stranger Things, opened the night by reflecting on the unusual experience of growing up on screen. He joked about his minimal facial hair before welcoming Marcello Hernández to the stage, setting a relaxed tone. The monologue became a reunion when Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin joined him to toast their transition from child actors to adult roles, marking a warm moment that resonated with the studio audience.

The Cold Open once again featured James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, introducing a reimagined cabinet that included Marcello Hernández as Marco Rubio and Jeremy Culhane as JD Vance. Ashley Padilla appeared as Kristi Noem, while Colin Jost drew one of the biggest reactions of the night with his return as Pete Hegseth. The segment ended with Trump announcing, “Also midterms are cancelled,” before the traditional sign-off.

Sketch highlights included the return of the “Boys Podcast” format in “Snack Homiez,” featuring Wolfhard alongside Chloe Fineman, Sabrina Carpenter and a low-key cameo from A$AP Rocky promoting Rap Snacks. Wolfhard also starred as Harry in a Harry Potter parody blended with sports drama tropes, while Jason Momoa made a surprise appearance as Hagrid.

As the musical guest, A$AP also performed “Punk Rocky” which is the lead single on his recently released fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb.

Later sketches leaned into pop culture nostalgia, including a boy band parody and a rapid-fire montage imagining multiple Stranger Things spin-offs. The episode closed with a clear message about the franchise’s future, underlining Netflix’s belief that Stranger Things is its Star Wars.