Stephen Colbert Announces End of The Late Show After 33 Years

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in 2026

The CBS television network announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude in May 2026 after being on air for 33 years. The decision was described as a financial one due to challenges in late-night television and is not related to the show's performance or content.

During a taping of the show, Colbert shared the news with the audience, expressing gratitude to CBS and the viewers for their support over the years. The announcement was met with disappointment from the live studio audience.

The conclusion of the program marks the end of a more than three-decade-long show, leaving CBS without a late-night comedy talk show for the first time since 1993. Colbert, known for his criticism of US President Donald Trump, took over the program in 2015 from David Letterman.

Colbert revealed that he was informed of the show's cancellation the night before the announcement. The decision came shortly after CBS settled a lawsuit with Trump related to an interview with his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris.

The Late Show, created in 1993 as a competitor to NBC's talk show, was part of a history of late-night television disputes. Before hosting The Late Show, Colbert was known for his program "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, which satirized US conservative politics.

The cancellation of The Late Show comes amidst discussions of a potential merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, pending US federal government approval. Colbert has hosted various Democratic politicians on his show and has been praised by colleagues and fans for his work.