Stephen Colbert announces end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS

Stephen Colbert has shared that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will officially come to an end in May 2026. 

During the taping on Thursday, July 17, Colbert, 61, broke the news to his studio audience and later posted the moment on Instagram.

“Before we start the show I want to let you know something that I found out just last night,” Colbert said. “Next year will be our last season, the network [CBS] will be ending The Late Show in May.”

The audience responded with loud boos, to which Colbert replied, “I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS.

I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away. I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”

He went on to express appreciation for the entire team behind the scenes. 

“We get to do this show for each other everyday all day,” he said, acknowledging the 200 crew members and his band. Colbert also added that he hopes “somebody else” will take over the opportunity in the future.

The Late Show has been a CBS staple since 1993, when David Letterman transitioned from NBC’s Late Night With David Letterman to start this new chapter.

Letterman hosted until April 2015, when Colbert stepped in and led the show for what will soon be a full decade.