CBS has officially announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, although fans can take comfort in knowing that the show won’t be immediately discontinued. This iconic late-night talk show is set to conclude its run in May 2026. CBS has clarified that this decision is not a reflection of Stephen Colbert's performance, but rather a financial strategy in a challenging economic landscape. Importantly, there are no plans to find a successor for Colbert; CBS intends to permanently retire the franchise following the final episode.
In a joint statement, CBS executives George Cheeks, Amy Reisenbach, and David Stapf expressed, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season,” emphasizing the network’s decision to honor the legacy of Colbert and the show. They stated, “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television. This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late-night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
The executives further remarked, “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late-night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news, and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been #1 in late-night for nine straight seasons; Stephen’s comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist. The accomplishments of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ are memorable and significant in performance, quality, and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
Colbert delivered the news during the taping of Thursday’s episode, revealing, “Before we start the show, I want to let you know something I found out just last night,” he shared candidly. “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending ‘The Late Show’ in May.” His announcement was met with boos from the audience, prompting Colbert to add, “Yeah, I share your feelings.”
He continued to emphasize the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away. And I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course, I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night.”
This marks the end of an era in late-night television. The show originated when CBS successfully signed David Letterman to a lucrative new contract after he was passed over as the new host of The Tonight Show. The Late Show with David Letterman premiered in 1993, with Letterman at the helm until his retirement in 2015, completing an impressive 4214 episodes. Shortly thereafter, Stephen Colbert took over the hosting duties, propelling the show to new heights as it became the highest-rated American late-night talk show for an impressive nine consecutive seasons.
