‘Saturday Night Live’ season 52 cast changes: See who isn’t coming back

Alabama Life & CultureJane Wickline and Colin Jost on "Saturday Night Live."NBCThe “Saturday Night Live” cast underwent changes ahead of season 52, which premieres Sept. 26 on NBC and Peacock.Chloe Fineman, who joined the “SNL” cast for season 45 in 2019, isn’t returning for season 52. She announced her exit via Instagram in July.“After 7 wonderful seasons at SNL I have decided it’s time for my next chapter,” she wrote. “It’s cliche to say this but working at SNL has been the greatest privilege of my life. I still can’t really believe I got to be a part of it. I fell in love with the place the second I walked through the door.”Fineman added that while “it’s really hard to leave SNL,” it “does feel like the right time” for her. She is set to star in the upcoming Netflix thriller series “Myron Bolitar” as well as the upcoming romantic comedy “Red, White & Royal Wedding.” Bowen Yang won’t be back for season 52 either, as he left “SNL” midway through season 51. His final episode aired in December 2025. During a June 2026 episode of Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, Yang revealed that he initially wanted to leave after season 50, but “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels persuaded him to stay a bit longer.“It was the first time I felt someone who made so many things possible for me being like, ‘I need you,’” Yang explained. “I’m like, ‘I’m not going to turn that down.’”READ MORE: ‘SNL’ season 52 schedule: See all hosts and musical guestsWith the exception of Fineman and Yang, the entire “SNL 51” cast is returning for season 52: Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Ashley Padilla, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska and Jane Wickline. Padilla and Wickline, who both joined the cast during season 50, have been promoted from featured players to repertory players for season 52.There are also two fresh faces joining the “SNL” cast for season 52: Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter. With the addition of Belo-Osagie and Reiter, more than half the season 52 cast joined “SNL” within the last three years.New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is set to host the Sept. 26 season 52 premiere with musical guest Katseye.“Saturday Night Live” is available to stream on Peacock.Critically-acclaimed Netflix show ending after 3 seasonsReboot in the works for one of the most iconic TV shows of the 2010s ‘Survivor 51’ star speaks out on ‘anti-astrology’ stance and sex toy business ‘Love Island USA’ star reveals reason for messy breakup: ‘I was left stranded’Sara Donnellan is a trending entertainment news writer. She worked as a TV news reporter for NJ.com, covering scripted and reality television and other viral TV moments, answering viewers’ burning questions and...