After more than two decades as one of music’s most inventive acts, Gorillaz are finally heading to Studio 8H.
The animated band will make its long-awaited Saturday Night Live debut on March 7, NBC confirmed Thursday. The episode will be hosted by Ryan Gosling, marking a notable first for the Damon Albarn-led project, which formed in 1998 but has never previously performed on the iconic late-night stage.
The appearance arrives just days after the release of Gorillaz’s ninth studio album, The Mountain, due Feb. 27. The group has already offered fans a preview of the record with five tracks, including the January releases “The Hardest Thing” and “Orange County.” With new music in hand and momentum building, the SNL performance gives the genre-blending collective a prime opportunity to showcase its latest era to a national television audience.
Gosling, meanwhile, is no stranger to the SNL spotlight. The actor will be hosting for the fourth time, following previous stints in 2015, 2017 and 2024. He is set to promote his upcoming sci-fi film Project Hail Mary, which arrives in theaters March 20. Beyond his acting résumé, Gosling also made an unexpected splash on the music charts in 2023 when “I’m Just Ken,” from the Barbie soundtrack, reached No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100.
NBC also revealed that another episode is scheduled for March 14, though the network has yet to announce its host or musical guest.
Before Gorillaz take the stage, SNL returns Feb. 28 with Connor Storrie serving as host and Mumford & Sons as the musical guest. The British band is preparing to release its sixth studio album, Prizefighter, on Feb. 20. Mumford & Sons previously appeared on SNL in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
For Gorillaz, the upcoming performance represents a milestone moment. Nearly three decades after reshaping the boundaries between alternative rock, electronic music and pop culture storytelling, the virtual band is finally stepping into one of live television’s most celebrated venues.