Harry Styles Returns to Host SNL, Addresses Queerbaiting Accusations

Harry Styles pulled double duty as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live on March 14, 2026, marking his second time hosting the indicate. He previously hosted in 2019 and had appeared as a musical guest with One Direction in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and as a solo artist in 2017. He as well made a cameo appearance with One Direction in 2020. Styles was promoting his latest album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.

SNL Season 51 Hosts

Styles is the 15th host of the show’s 51st season. Previous hosts this season include Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser, Glen Powell, Melissa McCarthy, Josh O’Connor, Ariana Grande, Finn Wolfhard, Teyana Taylor, Alexander Skarsgård, and Connor Storrie, and Ryan Gosling. Saturday Night Live recently added 11 Emmy Awards to its collection, bringing its total to 112.

Highlights from Harry Styles’ Hosting Gig

Cold Open: Gas Prices and Trump

The show opened with a sketch addressing rising gas prices, featuring a family forced to leave a child behind to afford fuel. James Austin Johnson portrayed Donald Trump, quipping, “We will win this war because Iran is old, and nobody likes them,” and comparing Iran to ballet and opera while calling himself “Timothée Chalamet.”

Opening Monologue: Addressing Queerbaiting

Styles directly addressed accusations of “queerbaiting” related to his wardrobe choices. He responded with, “But did it ever occur to that maybe you don’t know anything about me, dad?” He then kissed Ben Marshall on stage.

Sketches

Other sketches included a parody of HBO Max’s The Pitt, rebranded as MAHA Hospital, featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Promoting Ivermectin as a cure-all. Another sketch featured Sebastian Maniscalco as a public defender charming a judge, played by Kenan Thompson, while Styles attempted to emulate Maniscalco’s success.

Musical Performances

Ryan Gosling introduced Styles’ first musical performance, seemingly referencing a recent incident where Styles crashed Gosling’s monologue the previous week. Paul Simon, who hosted the show’s second episode over 50 years ago, introduced Styles’ second performance.

Weekend Update

Colin Jost welcomed Jeremy Culhane as Tucker Carlson to offer commentary on the Oscar nominees, with Carlson expressing a preference for older films like Gone with the Wind and the early scenes of Forrest Gump. Jost also discussed the Best Actor race between Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet.

Looking Ahead

Saturday Night Live will return on April 4, 2026, with Jack Black as host and Jack White as the musical guest.