In a surprising announcement Thursday, CBS revealed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will wrap up its historic run in May 2026, marking the end of an era in late-night television.
“THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season,” CBS said in a statement. “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.”
Colbert himself shared the news with his studio audience in a heartfelt message posted to Instagram. “I found out just last night — next year will be our last season,” he said. “The network will be ending The Late Show in May.”
He added poignantly, “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.”
Colbert, who took over the iconic desk in 2015, brought a sharp wit and political edge to the show, earning both critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. With CBS retiring the franchise entirely, his departure marks a significant shift in the late-night television landscape.
In a clip shared by The Late Show, the audience’s reaction was clear — audible boos echoed through the theater as they absorbed the disappointing news.
“I want to say that the folks at CBS have been fantastic partners,” Colbert added warmly. “I’m deeply grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course, thank you to you—the audience—who have joined us every night here, out there, and all around the world.”
The Late Show has been a staple of CBS’s late-night lineup since Colbert took over the iconic desk in 2015, succeeding legendary host David Letterman. Renowned for its sharp political satire, celebrity interviews, and comedy sketches, Colbert’s tenure brought a distinctively bold political edge, especially during election seasons and major national events.
Under his leadership, The Late Show rose to become the most-watched late-night program in the U.S. for multiple years, garnering critical acclaim and numerous Emmy nominations—cementing its place in the pantheon of late-night television.
Stephen Colbert had been outspoken in his criticism of Paramount following the company’s recent settlement of former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit concerning CBS’s handling of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the election. The settlement, finalized earlier this month, stirred controversy both publicly and behind the scenes.
According to Fox News, some Paramount staff reportedly worried that failing to resolve the lawsuit might threaten the company’s planned merger with Skydance, a deal that requires Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval. This internal pressure is believed to have influenced the decision to settle, despite the backlash from high-profile figures like Colbert.