CBS to End “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2026

CBS announced on Thursday that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will conclude in May 2026, marking the end of its remarkable run. The network stated, “We’re retiring from the ‘Late Show’ franchise at that time, believing Stephen Colbert is invaluable. Stephen is proud to call it CBS Home.”

The decision, CBS noted, stemmed from financial considerations against the challenging backdrop of late-night television. They emphasized that this was not related to the show’s performance, content, or any issues at Paramount.

In a video shared with his audience, Colbert revealed, “Last night, we found out that next year will be our last season,” adding, “The network will close the ‘Late Show’ in May.” He emphasized that this would mark not just the end of his show, but the end of the “Late Show” on CBS altogether.

Colbert was met with boos from the audience upon announcing the cancellation. “I want to say that the people at CBS were great partners,” he shared, expressing gratitude towards the network. He also thanked the audience for their support throughout the years.

Having taken over in 2015, Colbert’s tenure saw the show adopt a liberal stance during the Trump administration, turning it into a significant platform for Democratic figures. Recently, he hosted New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani before the candidate’s Democratic primary campaign.

With a corporate merger with Skydance Media looming later this year, there’s ongoing speculation about the futures of various late-night programs, including “The Daily Show” at Comedy Central.

Colbert has previously spoken candidly about CBS’s handling of interviews and various political developments, including Paramount recently settling a lawsuit.