Kenan Thompson has dropped a pretty big hint that Saturday Night Live (SNL) could be heading into a major shake-up in 2026.
After wrapping up the show’s 50th season, Kenan, who’s been a fan favorite and staple on the show since 2003, says the end of this milestone era feels “bittersweet,” and the changes coming next year might be huge.
In an interview with the New York Post, the 47-year-old comedy legend admitted, “Especially this year where it feels like there’s maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year.” It’s not clear yet what kind of changes he’s talking about, new cast members, key departures, maybe even his own? But the way Kenan puts it, we should be ready for something different.
Even with all the uncertainty, Kenan says he’d love to stay on Saturday Night Live, though he knows that summer tends to be the time when people start making big career decisions. “You want everyone to stay forever, knowing that people may be making decisions this summer … it’s always like you want your kids to stay young,” he said, clearly feeling sentimental about his time on the show.
Kenan has always been seen as the glue that holds SNL together. He’s the longest-running cast member in the show’s history, with over two decades of sketch comedy under his belt. But he remains humble, refusing to hype himself up. Speaking with NPR, Kenan said, “I’m tough with self-praise, I guess, but I am definitely an ensemble-minded individual. And if that echoes across, you know, in a way that people want to consider me as a glue, great.”
For Kenan, it’s never been about the spotlight. “I just try to go out there and do my job and, you know, give showcase to these brilliant writers and brilliant minds and all of our departments, makeup and hair and directors and this, that, and the other,” he said. “Just trying to be a team player. But those things come along with being consistent, which is definitely, you know, much appreciated.”
He’s hinted before that he doesn’t quite know how long he’ll stick around, and now that season 50 has wrapped, it seems like the crossroads is finally here. “I’m supposed to be there through the 50th, but that’s all I know as far as what they want from me,” Kenan explained. “And then what do I want at this point? Yeah, I mean, I could see myself, like, hanging it up. It’s been a long run. You know what I mean?”
Still, he’s not ruling out sticking around either. “But at the same time, I could also see myself being the guy that never left, kind of thing. I don’t really know. It’s kind of, like, still a blank canvas.” So yeah, Kenan’s future at SNL is up in the air, and he seems just as unsure as everyone else about what comes next.
The idea that Saturday Night Live could see a serious overhaul in 2026 isn’t far-fetched. Shows with this kind of history and legacy often hit reset after big milestones. But with Kenan at the heart of it all for so long, any change involving him would hit hard for fans. Whether he stays or not, one thing’s for sure: season 51 could mark a bold new chapter for the show that’s shaped American comedy for decades.
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