How To Get ‘SNL’ Tickets 2019: NBC’s Lottery Is Open

“Saturday Night Live” is on hiatus for now, but it won’t be long until it comes back to NBC in September. However, those who want to be in the room where it happens need to start planning now to get tickets.

Audience members cannot buy “SNL” tickets for the 2019/2020 season. Instead, there is a lottery for “SNL” tickets, which is officially open. It kicked off at 12 a.m. EDT on Aug. 1 and will end 11:59 p.m. EDT on Aug. 31, 2019.

To enter the lottery for “SNL” tickets, just send an email to Snltickets@nbcuni.com explaining why you want to be in the studio audience. Winners will get two tickets, but they will not get to pick which episode they see or between the live show and dress rehearsal. The lucky ones will be assigned a random show date and time.

As with all lotteries, there are rules, but these are pretty simple. Only send one email per person. Entrants must be at least 16 years old.

Of course, there will likely be far more entries than tickets. That’s why there’s a standby line. The standby tickets are given out at 7 a.m. on show days on the 48th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Those who are first in line get a choice between the 8 p.m. dress rehearsal or 11:30 p.m. live show.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean show up at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday. Fans start lining up on Friday nights or even afternoon (depending on how popular the host and musical guest are) and sleep on the sidewalk in hopes of getting a standby ticket. Be sure to dress warm, bring a portable charger and stay hydrated.

NBC does not allow “line sitters,” so don’t try to get anyone to hold your place. Bathroom and food breaks are allowed. Remember stand-by tickets don’t guarantee entry. They just allow fans to get in if ticketholders don’t show.

“Saturday Night Live” will return Sept. 28 at 11:30 p.m. EDT on NBC. Woody Harrelson hosts while Billie Eilish serves as musical guest.