Saturday Night Live's 51st season has concluded as the number one broadcast comedy series in the 18-49 demographic, marking its seventh consecutive year at the top, according to Nielsen data. The show also ranked third among all entertainment series in the same demographic and second among broadcast comedies in total viewers.
While Season 51 did not surpass the audience figures of the special 50th anniversary season, it showed growth compared to recent years. Total viewership increased by 6% versus Season 49 and 5% versus Season 48. The season finale, hosted by Will Ferrell with musical guest Paul McCartney, was up 9% in total viewers compared to the previous season's finale.
The most-watched episode across all platforms was the December 20 broadcast featuring host Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher, which drew 10.1 million viewers. That episode also garnered the most social views of the season. On Peacock, the October 4 season premiere with host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat was the top performer, and its sketch 'El Chavo Del Ocho' became the most-viewed sketch of the season across social platforms.
Overall, the 2025-26 season accumulated 8.2 billion video views, a 98% increase over the previous season, highlighting the show's continued digital growth.
