Saturday Night Live Will Add Two New Cast Members
Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter join the show for its 52nd season.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Comedy
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NBC has announced that Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter will join the cast of Saturday Night Live for the upcoming season 52. The program is set to return on September 26, 2026.
Why it matters
The new casting additions come as the long-running comedy institution faces a transition following the departure of several longtime contributors. Producers began searching for new talent earlier this year to refresh the ensemble ahead of the premiere.
New cast member Grace Reiter brings a digital audience of nearly four million followers on TikTok to the show. Her addition follows the departure of Chloe Fineman, who had appeared on the program for seven seasons.
The players
Saidah Belo-Osagie
She is a performer from Queens, N.Y., joining the cast for the new season.
Grace Reiter
She is a performer from Chippewa Falls, Wis., who maintains a significant presence on social media.
Chloe Fineman
She is a comedian who departed the show following a seven-season tenure.
Jalen Brunson
He is a professional athlete set to serve as the host for the season 52 premiere.
KATSEYE
This musical group is scheduled to perform as the guest for the season 52 premiere.
The details
Saidah Belo-Osagie of Queens, N.Y., and Grace Reiter of Chippewa Falls, Wis., were confirmed as the new additions on September 16, 2026. The move follows the 2025 departure of Ego Nwodim and the high-profile exits of Fineman and writer Martin Herlihy.
Timeline
September 16, 2026: NBC confirmed the new cast members.
September 26, 2026: Saturday Night Live season 52 begins.
Industry Dynamics
This casting move follows the 2025 departure of Ego Nwodim from Saturday Night Live, which created a specific vacancy for a Black female performer. The selection of digital-native talent like Reiter also highlights the industry shift toward prioritizing performers with established social media followings.
Viewers can see the new cast members when the 52nd season premieres on network television on September 26. The show remains accessible via traditional broadcast and its associated streaming platforms.
The takeaway
The addition of new talent often signals a pivot in the creative direction of a long-running sketch comedy series. Audiences should look for how the new cast members interact with the returning ensemble during the premiere episode.
What happens next
Saturday Night Live season 52 begins on September 26, 2026, hosted by Jalen Brunson with musical guest KATSEYE.
Further reading
For more on the latest updates from the production, visit the Comedy section.
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