New Rock Hall Exhibit Celebrates 50 Years of Music on Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live (SNL) turns 50 this year, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is celebrating with a must-see new exhibit: “SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music.” Opening on May 23, this one-of-a-kind immersive experience honors the iconic show’s musical history, unforgettable performances and fan-favorite sketches.

Relive legendary moments from Hall of Famers like Blondie, RUN-D.M.C. and Mick Jagger to modern stars like Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter. Step into a re-creation of Studio 8H, browse exclusive performance archives and pose as the host in a custom SNL photo booth (coming soon). Geek out over costumes and video clips from unforgettable musical sketches like “Wayne’s World,” “D–k in a Box” and other moments your parents probably shouldn't have let you watch.

More Cowbell Required: Inside the New SNL Exhibit

The exhibit mirrors the show's format, complete with cold opens, musician guest announcements and the emotional “Goodnights” finale. In addition to the aforementioned exhibit features, there are more costumes from beloved sketches on display, along with photography bumpers, props and interactive elements like an interactive SNL archive. And to top it off, grab a seat for a 20-minute cut of Questlove’s documentary, packed with never-before-seen footage. Soon guests will have the ability to navigate the exhibit with a specially curated guidebook, featuring a foreword by SNL legend Fred Armisen.

With bilingual translations, accessibility features and SNL merchandise (exclusive drops are on their way), this is a can't-miss event for fans of music, comedy or both.

Items on display include:

• A T-shirt worn by Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam’s 1994 SNL performance, featuring a “K” in tribute to Kurt Cobain
• The guitar Dave Grohl played with Foo Fighters during their 2017 appearance
• Glasses frames worn by D.M.C. during RUN-D.M.C.’s 1986 performance
• Olivia Rodrigo’s cake-stained dress from her 2023 appearance

The Last 50 Years

For any unfrozen caveman lawyers not in the know, SNL is an iconic sketch comedy and variety institution that's aired Saturday nights on NBC since 1975, making it one of the longest-running programs in television history. Each episode features the show’s core cast, a celebrity host and a musical guest, always kicking off with a cold open that ends in the iconic line: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

Over the past five decades, SNL has welcomed numerous performers, musicians and hosts with ties to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, including cast members Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer, as well as guest hosts such as LeBron James and Travis Kelce.

The Next 50

One thing about us Clevelanders is that we know how to take — and make — a joke. With the new SNL exhibit in town, there’s no better time to spotlight comedy in The Land, from big-name comedians who once called Cleveland home to the top venues where you can catch local standouts and national headliners alike.

Plan Your Visit

Single tickets to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are $39.50 for adults, $29.50 for ages six to 12 and free for kids five and under. The Rock Hall is free to all city of Cleveland residents through the CLE VIP Program. The exhibition is open during the museum’s regular hours: