How to Enter the SNL Ticket Lottery to Watch SNL Live From NYC in Season 51 (UPDATED)
It's that time of year again! Here's how you can see the action for yourself in Studio 8H starting October 4.
UPDATE: The ticket lottery for Saturday Night Live Season 51 will open at 12:00am EST on August 1, 2025 and run until 11:59pm EST on August 31, 2025.
*SNL's first three Season 51 Hosts and Musical Guests have been announced — get the details here!*
Any submissions received before August 1st or after August 31st will be disregarded.
Here's more information on how to request standby tickets week of show!
The original post continues below.
RELATED: Saturday Night Live Sets Season 51 Premiere Date
Over 50 Seasons since its October 1975 premiere, Saturday Night Live has become the most Emmy-nominated show of all time, widely beloved for hilarious sketches, talented cast members, and a diverse array of Hosts and Musical Guests. And the live format of the long-running NBC variety series is what makes SNL extra magical.
Did you know that you can get tickets to see the recording of SNL for free?
For SNL fans that have grown up watching the series, the question of how to score SNL tickets has likely come to mind. Watching at home on NBC and Peacock is simple enough, but seeing the hilarity unfold in front of your own eyes is an incredible experience. That's why we're sharing how can get your hands on SNL tickets: If you're lucky, you might catch the next season of SNL live from New York!
Saturday Night Live returns on October 4, 2025 — read on to learn how you can enter the August ticket lottery.
RELATED: Why the First Saturday Night Live Cast Were Called The Not Ready for Prime Time Players
How much do tickets to SNL cost?
SNL tickets are free!
How to get tickets to Saturday Night Live
SNL audience members are selected randomly through email lottery. Ticket requests can be submitted in August, the only time of the year when submissions are accepted. Take note: You cannot request a specific show date to see SNL, so flexibility is a must if you intend to travel to NYC for the show.
The cut-off date and time for the 2025-2026 lottery is 11:59pm EST on August 31, 2025. Any submissions received before August 1st or after August 31st will be disregarded. Afterward, tickets are allotted to the selected entrants for the entire SNL season, which historically runs from October through late May.
If your submission is selected, you will receive two tickets to see all the hilarious sketches and music performances that make SNL so iconic.
RELATED: Seth Meyers Names the "Perfect Sketch" Mikey Day Co-Wrote for Nate Bargatze's SNL
How to submit a Saturday Night Live ticket request
SNL's email lottery is simple, but it's important to follow instructions to increase your chances of winning.
Send SNL ticket requests via email to SNLTICKETS@NBCUNI.COM. Only one ticket request per household is permitted. Make sure to include your full name, email address, and why you would like to be a part of SNL's studio audience. Entering the lottery doesn't guarantee tickets. If chosen, you'll be notified of the show date and time you received.
Requirements for Saturday Night Live audience members
You must be 16 years or older to attend SNL, whether a parent or guardian is present or not. A valid photo ID is required upon arrival. Guests that cannot provide this documentation won't be admitted.
Check out all the information on how to get tickets to SNL.
Does what you write in your SNL ticket lottery email really matter?
Yes!
Entering the lottery requires stating why you want to see the show — and they really do read your response.
Just ask Sylvia Cerel-Suhl and her daughter, Sara Suhl, who got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the show as part of the SNL50 anniversary celebrations. They were selected via Cerel-Suhl's annual ticket lottery entry, in which she described sharing her 50-year Saturday Night Live fandom with her kids.
Cerel-Suhl told NBC Insider that seeing the show in person isn't just funny, it's an awe-inducing experience. ""It was amazing to see how kinetic it was: Everything's moving, everyone knows exactly where to go, it's so rapid," she said. "They were even still painting a set," she added, laughing, "Now you know: If you're ever on that show, don't touch the walls!”
RELATED: These Mother and Daughter SNL Superfans Describe Their "Surreal" Trip to See the Show
What are SNL standby tickets?
Hoping to score a ticket on the day of a show? Book an SNL standby reservation, which puts you on a waitlist for a possible open spot in the audience.
The only way to request a standby card is to follow this SNL standby reservation link, which goes live at 10 a.m. on the Thursday before a show day.
You can request up to 4 standby spots, with the option to reserve for either the 8pm dress rehearsal *or* the 11:30 live show. At the link above, provide your full name, email address, and the number of people in your party. Once you’ve entered your reservation, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your reservation number—if there’s capacity. (Due to high demand, this may take hours, but know that reservations are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.)
RELATED: SNL's Most Memorable Cold Opens
If you do receive confirmation, your entire party must check in to the in-person standby line at between 6-7pm on the Friday before show day. Photo I.D. is required. Next, take your numerically-assigned place in line and wait patiently until midnight: Standby cards will be handed out at approximately 12:01am on Saturday morning. Note that a standby card doesn’t guarantee admission until you're in that seat! Read the complete requirements for standby.
If you miss out on tickets to see SNL, just catch episodes live when they air on Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c.
All 50 seasons of Saturday Night Live are currently available to stream on Peacock anytime.
Shop SNL merch!
