How Can I Go To Saturday Night Live (SNL)?
- Vanessa
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 15
Saturday Night Live celebrates 50 seasons in 2025! Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a live taping of Saturday Night Live (SNL), thanks to their annual ticket lottery. I found out the Tuesday before while I was at a Syracuse University basketball game (I screamed so loud I had the whole section concerned... oops). The craziest part? That Saturday was my BIRTHDAY! Like, what are the chances of that?! It was an unforgettable experience with Dakota Johnson as the host and Justin Timberlake as the musical guest -- there were also guest appearances by Jimmy Fallon, Dave Chapelle, Barbara Cocoran, and Mark Cuban. It was definitely one of the best episodes of the season (it's hard to beat Ryan Gosling's). I felt extremely fortunate and lucky to experience this with Sandy, and now I'm excited to share how you can score tickets too!
The SNL Ticket Lottery
Every year on August 1, SNL opens its lottery to the public. It closes on August 31, so make sure you set a reminder to do it before it opportunity is gone. To enter, simply send an email to snltickets@nbcuni.com with your name, contact information, and a brief note explaining why you'd love to attend. The lottery is random, so creativity won't necessarily boost your chances, but it’s a fun way to explain why you deserve a ticket. I did this for about 10 years and finally got lucky. Most times I emailed that I would LOVE to be at the show the same time as Jim Carrey (he's always been my favorite).
Standby Tickets: Another Option
I have seen a lot of information online that you must get in line the Friday before the show and wait all night for tickets, but now it looks like you can request a standby ticket! If you know there is a show you want to attend, go to the SNL standby reservation link and request tickets. This goes live at 10 a.m. ET on the Thursday before the show of your choice. Check the SNL website for more details and updates to ensure you have all the correct information ahead of requesting tickets.
My Experience
Before going into the studio is a fun time because you get offered free drinks, there is music playing, and you can do the photo booth while you wait to be seated. It’s a lot of going through security to get to this point, but once you’re in, it’s so worth it. I was giddy the entire time looking at all the photographs of epic SNL skits and guests throughout the years. Make sure you grab photos during this time because once you're in your seat, phones are not allowed. You can use your phone beforehand, but not once you're seated.
You also want to make sure you arrive earlier than the time on your reservation. You'll have a better chance of being closer to the stage. Additionally, dressing up is recommended. I don’t know if this is true, but we overheard that those who are dressed the nicest usually get the seats on the floor. We were dressed up, but maybe we should have gotten there even earlier to have a shot at being on the floor. We arrived about 30 minutes before the stated time.
Being in Studio 8H, witnessing the cast perform live, and feeling the electric energy of the audience was surreal. The comedic timing, behind-the-scenes transitions, and star-studded guests made it a night to remember. It was really impressive to see how much work is done to change the scenes between commercials. The stage is a bit smaller than I expected, too.
Final Tips
Be Patient: Whether through the lottery or standby line, persistence pays off.
Travel Light: Security is tight, so bring only essentials.
Stay Flexible: Plans can change, and shows can be unpredictable—embrace the spontaneity.
Attending SNL was a bucket-list experience for me, and I hope these tips help you have the chance to enjoy it too!
What a cool experience! I didn't know they had the lotteries so this will definitely help my chance of seeing the show taping.