"Saturday Night Live" Celebrates 50 Years with a Star-Studded Concert and Weekend of Festivities
This February, comedy and music fans are in for a treat as Saturday Night Live (SNL) celebrates its 50th anniversary with a series of events that promise to be unforgettable. At the center of these celebrations is SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, a three-hour livestreamed extravaganza set to take place at the iconic Radio City Music Hall on February 14. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Jimmy Fallon, the concert will bring together some of the biggest names in music and comedy to honor the legacy of a show that has been a cornerstone of American entertainment for half a century. The event will stream live on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET, giving fans across the country a front-row seat to the action. For those who want to experience it on the big screen, select IMAX theaters at Regal Cinemas locations in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and Florida will host free fan screening events, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the magic of the concert alongside other die-hard fans.
The lineup for The Homecoming Concert is nothing short of impressive, featuring a mix of legendary performers and contemporary superstars. Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, and Post Malone are just a few of the A-listers set to take the stage, ensuring a dynamic and unpredictable mix of genres and styles. Joining them will be Mumford & Sons, Jack White, David Byrne, Robyn, Eddie Vedder, DEVO, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Jelly Roll, the B-52s, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the Roots, among others. Recent additions to the lineup include Cher, Dave Grohl, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent, and Wyclef Jean, further cementing the event’s status as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of music and comedy. The concert will also feature special appearances by former SNL cast members, including Ana Gasteyer, Andy Samberg, Maya Rudolph, Tracy Morgan, and Will Ferrell, as well as Paul Shaffer and other surprise guests, ensuring that the spirit of the show is front and center throughout the evening.
Behind the scenes, the concert is being executive produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels and the incomparable Mark Ronson, whose creative vision and expertise promise to make the event a visually and auditory masterpiece. The concert is produced by Broadway Video, with Erin David and Caroline Maroney serving as producers, Ken Aymong and Rob Paine as supervising producers, and Beth McCarthy-Miller directing the proceedings. The attention to detail and star power involved in this production make it clear that The Homecoming Concert is more than just a celebration—it’s a love letter to the fans who have supported SNL over the years.
For those eagerly awaiting the concert, the weekend of festivities doesn’t stop there. Just two days later, on Sunday, February 16, SNL will air a three-hour live broadcast special, SNL50: The Anniversary Special, at 8 p.m. ET. This special event will serve as the culmination of the 50th-anniversary celebrations, offering fans another opportunity to reflect on the show’s enduring impact and legacy. The concert and special are part of a broader series of SNL50 events, including a four-part docuseries from acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Neville titled SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, which delves into the behind-the-scenes history of the show, and a documentary special from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Oz Rodriguez called Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music, which explores the musical legacy of the program.
In addition to these on-screen celebrations, fans have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of SNL through the Live From New York: The SNL50 Experience, an interactive event at Rockefeller Center. This immersive installation allows visitors to step into the shoes of an SNL host, complete with recreations of iconic sets and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the show’s history. For Capital One cardholders, there are even more exclusive experiences, including a special event at Harold Square Café on February 13 featuring SNL alums Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer, as well as a pre-concert party at Bar 65.
As the countdown to February 14 begins, excitement is building for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of comedy, music, and nostalgia. SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and the surrounding events are a testament to the enduring legacy of a show that has shaped generations of entertainers and entertained millions of fans. Whether you’re tuning in from home, catching the concert at an IMAX theater, or experiencing the magic of Rockefeller Center firsthand, this celebration of SNL’s 50th anniversary is not to be missed. It’s a chance to come together, laugh, sing, and celebrate the show that has been a part of so many lives for five decades—and counting.
