Holt Will Move Full Time to NBC’s News Magazine Show “Dateline” at the Beginning of the Summer
Lester Holt, the longtime anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, is stepping down from the role at the beginning of the summer. After leading the broadcast for ten years, Holt will transition to a full-time position at NBC’s investigative news magazine show, Dateline, where he has served as principal anchor since 2011.
A Decade of Leadership at NBC Nightly News
Holt took over as Nightly News anchor in June 2015, following eight years anchoring the weekend edition of the program and 12 years co-hosting Weekend TODAY. Throughout his tenure, he covered some of the most pivotal events of the era, including the rise of Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing war in Gaza. His extensive reporting also took him to disaster zones, from hurricanes and wildfires to mass shooting sites.
An Influential Voice in Journalism
Over the years, Holt has conducted high-profile interviews with global leaders, including former U.S. Presidents Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His recent coverage includes co-anchoring NBC’s election night broadcast, traveling to Iran for an exclusive interview with President Masoud Pezeshkian, and leading a Dateline special on the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
A Legacy of Trust and Excellence
Holt’s impact on journalism extends beyond his anchoring duties. He has been twice named the “most-trusted television news personality in America” according to The Hollywood Reporter and Morning Consult polls. Under his leadership, Nightly News remained a top-rated program, attracting an average of 7 million viewers weekly.
Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News’ executive vice president of programming, praised Holt’s contributions, calling him “the beating heart of this news organization” and recognizing his leadership during some of the nation’s most challenging moments.
A Continued Presence at NBC
Although stepping away from Nightly News, Holt will remain a key figure at NBC. In addition to his expanded role at Dateline, he will continue to anchor Nightly News: Kids Edition, an Emmy-nominated digital newscast designed to educate children about current events.
NBC has yet to announce Holt’s successor for Nightly News, but his departure marks the end of an era for the flagship broadcast.
