The Saturday Night Live ticket lottery for the 2025-2026 season will open at 12:00am ET on August 1, 2025 and run until 11:59pm ET on August 31, 2025. To enter the lottery, send an email to SNLTICKETS@NBCUNI.COM. You may only send one email per person. Submissions entered before or after the ticket lottery window will not be considered. Please include your first and last name and tell us why YOU would like to be a part of our studio audience! If you are selected, you will receive a set number of tickets for a random show date and time. Entering the lottery does not guarantee tickets, and you will only be notified in the event that you are chosen.
You must be at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time of taping to attend. No one under the age of 16 will be admitted into the show, regardless of whether a parent or guardian is present. Everyone in your confirmed party must present a valid photo I.D. containing date of birth upon arrival.
Saturday Night Live makes reasonable modifications of its policies, practices and procedures and provides reasonable accommodations. Guests are encouraged to request accommodations in advance to ensure that we have enough time to provide the necessary accommodations.
All tickets are complimentary and may not be sold or auctioned. Beware of tickets offered for sale as they are invalid and will not be accepted. Saturday Night Live and NBCUniversal Media LLC reserve the right to REVOKE any ticket believed to have been purchased or sold. Any ticket may be REVOKED at any time at the discretion of show personnel.
STANDBY CARDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT 12:01AM ET THE SATURDAY OF A SHOW DAY Please read below for instructions on how to receive a standby card. BOOKING A STANDBY RESERVATION AT THE BELOW LINK IS THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE A STANDBY RESERVATION TO BOOK A STANDBY RESERVATION PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK: SNL STANDBY RESERVATION THIS LINK WILL OPEN AT 10AM ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE A SHOW.
1. Book a standby reservation by going to the link provided ABOVE. You may choose to book a reservation for either the 8pm dress rehearsal or the 11:30pm live broadcast. You will be asked for your first and last name, and your email address. After registering, you will receive a confirmation that you are now part of our queue.
2. You will receive an email with your reservation number. Due to the number of requests, it may take several hours for your reservation number to arrive by email. A reservation number will be sent by email until we reach capacity per event. Reservation numbers will be issued in the order received.
Please note duplicate submissions for the same date are not permitted. If you request a SNL standby reservation more than once, only your most recent (latest) submission will be considered and that submission will determine your reservation number.
3. If you received a reply to your request with a reservation number, check-in at the in-person standby line at the 49th Street NBC Studios Marquee between 6pm and 7pm ET on the Friday before a show day.
4. You will be assisted to line up in numerical order based on your standby reservation.
5. Standby cards will be handed out at approximately 12:01am ET on Saturday morning of a show day. Photo ID will be required again at this point. Standby cards are limited to one per person. Standby cards will not be distributed at any time other than 12:01am ET.
We want to make sure the standby process is fair for everyone, so all standby line members must always remain in line after checking in Friday night. If you do not wait in line, you will not be admitted to the show. No “line-sitters” please.
The use of:
Alcohol
Lounge chairs (regular chairs are permitted)
Mattresses
Sleeping bags
Tents
…will NOT be permitted in the standby line at any time.
Of course, you are free to take minimal, necessary breaks (i.e., going to the bathroom) from the line. Please note that all standby reservations and cards are non-transferable and non-exchangeable. NBC staff reserve the right to revoke the cards of, or not issue any cards to, anyone in line for any reason, including if proper procedures are not followed.
Remember, a standby card does not guarantee admission.