The following is a list of episodes of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, NPR's news panel game, that aired during 2026. Dates indicated are the episodes' original Saturday air dates, and the job titles and backgrounds of the guests reflect their status and positions at the time of their appearance. On some occasions, member stations alter the episodes for their donation drive breaks, which only impact the show's airing within their broadcast area.
Unless otherwise indicated, all episodes feature Peter Sagal as host, and originate from the Studebaker Theatre at Chicago's Fine Arts Building. Also unless indicated otherwise, episodes thru May 30 featured Bill Kurtis as announcer/scorekeeper. On March 9th, it was announced that Kurtis would retire from the role, ending a 12-year run that began in May 2014, though it was also stated that he would fill in as a guest announcer/scorekeeper when needed in the future. On June 4, Alzo Slade, comedian & recurring Wait! Wait! panelist (as well as a frequent fill-in for Kurtis), was announced as the show's new regular announcer/scorekeeper beginning with the episode of June 6.
January Date Guest Panelists January 3Previously unaired segments"Best of 2025" encores featuring actors Pedro Pascal & Chris Perfetti and television personality Heather GayJanuary 10Actor Delroy LindoJoyelle Nicole Johnson, Roy Blount Jr., Paula PoundstoneJanuary 17Professional boxer/actress Kali ReisRachel Coster, Luke Burbank, Hari KondaboluJanuary 24Businessman/actor Kevin O'LearyShantira Jackson, Adam Burke, Mo RoccaJanuary 31Filmmaker Jon M. ChuNegin Farsad, Peter Grosz, Annie Rauwerda
February Date Guest Panelists NotesFebruary 7Librarian/media personality Mychal ThreetsTig Notaro, Josh Gondelman, Tom BodettFebruary 14Actress/singer Arden ChoBeth Stelling, Paula Poundstone, Tom PapaGuest host Negin FarsadFebruary 21"Not My Job" encores featuring chef Roy Choi, actress Cynthia Nixon, and bagpipe musician Ally Crowley-DuncanFebruary 28Former competitive swimmer & Olympic gold medalist Lilly KingJosh Gondelman, Alonzo Bodden, Faith SalieShow recorded in Bloomington, IN
March Date Guest Panelists NotesMarch 7Sportscaster Jason BenettiNegin Farsad, Luke Burbank, Hari KondaboluMarch 14Actor John CusackRachel Coster, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam BurkeGuest announcer/scorekeeper Alzo SladeMarch 21Actor Aasif MandviShane Torres, Paula Poundstone, Alonzo BoddenMarch 28D. W. Moffett, actor and chair of the film & television department at SCADShantira Jackson, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Adam BurkeGuest announcer/scorekeeper Alzo Slade Show recorded in Savannah, GA
April Date Guest Panelists NotesApril 4Actress Olivia MunnRachel Coster, Peter Grosz, Joyelle Nicole JohnsonGuest host Negin FarsadApril 11"Not My Job" encores featuring actors Rhea Seehorn & Andy Richter and filmmaker Jon M. ChuApril 18Phil Pritchard, Hockey Hall of Fame curator & keeper of the Stanley CupDulcé Sloan, Adam Burke, Alonzo BoddenGuest announcer/scorekeeper Alzo SladeApril 25Father James Martin, Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of AmericaShantira Jackson, Josh Gondelman, Katie NolanGuest host Tom Papa
May Date Guest Panelists NotesMay 2Actor/comedian Will Ferrell, appearing as his movie character Ron BurgundyPaula Poundstone, Eugene Cordero, Alzo SladeShow recorded in San Diego, CA May 9Songwriter/librettist Robert LopezRoxanne Roberts, Mo Rocca, Hari KondaboluMay 16Author and Jeopardy! host Ken JenningsFaith Salie, Tom Bodett, Joyelle Nicole JohnsonMay 23Singer/songwriter Brandi CarlilePaula Poundstone, Negin Farsad, Luke BurbankBill Kurtis' final original episode as Wait Waits regular announcer/scorekeeperMay 30"Not My Job" encores featuring actress/comedienne Tiffany Haddish, musicians Taimane Gardner & Lucy Dacus, and open water swimmer Rebecca Mann
June Date Guest Panelists NotesJune 6Professional bobsledder Elana Meyers TaylorTom Papa, Rachel Coster, Brian BabylonShow recorded in Austin, TX Alzo Slade's first episode as Wait Waits regular announcer/scorekeeperJune 13Actor/comedian Robert SmigelShane Torres, Shantira Jackson, Josh GondelmanJune 20Yesteryear author Caro Claire Burke Shane O'Neill, Karen Chee, Peter GroszJune 27Stephen Malkmus, lead singer of PavementEmmy Blotnick, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Gianmarco Soresi
July Date Guest Panelists NotesJuly 4Previously unaired panel segments"Not My Job" encores featuring actors John Cusack & Aasif Mandvi, actress/singer Arden Cho, and professional boxer/actress Kali ReisJuly 11Musician Jason NarducyAdam Burke, Negin Farsad, Alonzo BoddenShow recorded in Milwaukee, WI July 18Musician/songwriter Vicki PetersonHelen Hong, Dulcé Sloan, Alonzo BoddenGuest host Tom PapaJuly 25Actor/rapper Tyler James WilliamsHari Kondabolu, Faith Salie, Josh Gondelman
August Date Guest Panelists NotesAugust 1Author Mary RoachJoyelle Nicole Johnson, Shane Torres, Tom PapaShow recorded in Rohnert Park, CA August 8Actress Sally FieldPaula Poundstone, Tom Bodett, Shantira JacksonAugust 15Previously unaired panel segments"Not My Job" encores featuring sportscaster Jason Benetti, librarian Mychal Threets, former competitive swimmer Lilly King, and singer-songwriter/actress Renee RappAugust 22Encore segments including "Not My Job" interviews with author/game show host Ken Jennings, actress Olivia Munn, magazine editor Father James Martin, and songwriter/librettist Robert LopezAugust 29Magician/stunt performer Carisa HendrixJoyelle Nicole Johnson, Peter Grosz, Tig Notaro
September Date Guest Panelists NotesSeptember 5Poet/freelance writer Maggie SmithShane Torres, Annie Rauwerda, Mo RoccaShow recorded in Huber Heights, OH September 12Comedian/actress Leslie JonesPeter Grosz, Negin Farsad, Sureni WeerasekeraSeptember 19Author/writer Hernan DiazShantira Jackson, Adam Burke, Sam RochaSeptember 26John Cook, Omaha Supernovas GM and former Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball head coachJosh Gondelman, Faith Salie, Dulcé SloanShow recorded in Omaha, NE
October Date Guest Panelists NotesOctober 3Musician/writer David ByrneRob Anderson, Rachel Coster, Alonzo BoddenOctober 10TBATBA, TBA, TBAOctober 17"Not My Job" encoresOctober 24TBATBA, TBA, TBAShow recorded in Kalamazoo, MI October 31TBATBA, TBA, TBA
November Date Guest Panelists NotesNovember 7TBATBA, TBA, TBANovember 14TBATBA, TBA, TBAShow recorded in Normal, IL November 21TBATBA, TBA, TBANovember 28"Not My Job" encores
December Date Guest Panelists NotesDecember 5TBATBA, TBA, TBADecember 12TBATBA, TBA, TBAShow recorded in Location TBADecember 19TBATBA, TBA, TBADecember 26"Best of 2026" encores
References
External links Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! official website WWDT.me, an unofficial Wait Wait historical site