CBS has officially announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026. The network confirmed the decision in a statement released on Thursday, surprising fans and media alike.
The long-running program will wrap up after 33 years on air. CBS stated that the move is “purely a financial decision” and is not related to the show’s performance or content.
Stephen Colbert broke the news during a live taping earlier the same evening. His announcement was met with boos and disappointment from the studio audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
“This is not just the end of our show. It’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Colbert told viewers. He added that CBS does not plan to replace him and will retire the franchise altogether.
Colbert also praised CBS, calling them “great partners,” and thanked his audience for their years of support.
The news comes shortly after CBS’s parent company, Paramount, reached a $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit was related to a CBS interview with Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed was edited unfairly. Some observers, including Senator Adam Schiff, questioned whether the show’s cancellation had political motives, though CBS strongly denies this.
Colbert is known for his critical stance on Trump and has frequently used his platform to address political issues. During his tenure as host, he has interviewed several prominent Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama.
The Late Show first aired in 1993, created as CBS’s answer to NBC’s The Tonight Show. David Letterman was its first host, before Colbert took over in 2015 following his success on The Colbert Report.
CBS emphasized that Colbert is “irreplaceable” and praised his contributions to late-night television. The network confirmed it will not continue The Late Show with a new host.
As rival networks like NBC and ABC move forward with late-night programming, CBS will step away from the format entirely. Shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Will continue airing through 2028.
Fans and celebrities alike reacted with sadness and support. Colleagues and stars, including Jimmy Kimmel, Ben Stiller, and Rachel Zegler, shared tributes online, calling Colbert one of the best in late-night history.
The end of The Late Show marks a major shift in the late-night landscape and the close of a legendary chapter in television history.
