Stephen Colbert has confirmed that the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air on Thursday, May 21, 2026, marking the definitive end of his tenure as host and the retirement of the entire Late Show franchise on CBS. The announcement came during a taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers, first reported by LateNighter and quickly confirmed across major outlets including Entertainment Weekly, TheWrap, and Deadline.
This closes a landmark chapter in late-night television that began in 1993 when David Letterman launched Late Show from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Letterman's original run spanned more than 4,000 episodes until his retirement in 2015, when Colbert took over the desk on September 8, 2015.
Over the past decade-plus, Colbert transformed the program into a powerhouse of sharp political satire, cultural commentary, and high-profile interviews, often dominating ratings and online discourse—particularly during turbulent political periods.
The timing has sparked debate, as the initial cancellation news followed closely after Colbert criticized CBS parent company Paramount Global's $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump—described by some as a potential "bribe"—amid Paramount's merger with Skydance Media, which required federal approval.
Critics suggested political motivations, though CBS repeatedly called the move financial, citing annual losses around $40 million for the program.
With the May 21 date now set, Colbert and his team have just under four months left to deliver monologues, sketches, and guest segments. Fans have already expressed sadness and speculation online about his next chapter, with some hoping for a return to formats like a revived Colbert Report on digital platforms.
The finale will cap a 33-year run for the Late Show brand, leaving CBS without a network late-night talk show for the first time since 1993 and underscoring broader shifts in how comedy and commentary reach audiences today.