The Late Show is ending in 2026 as CBS retires a 33-year legacy that defined late-night television.NH
CBS‘ venerable late-night franchise The Late Show will be signing off after more than three decades.
In a surprising development, the network announced Thursday that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end next year, and said the decision was “purely a financial” one.
“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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Colbert officially took over as host of The Late Show in September 2015. At the time, he replaced David Letterman, who launched the franchise in August 1993. Letterman announced his retirement in 2014, and his final episode aired in May 2015.
Under Colbert, The Late Show has seen much success, which CBS touted in its statement Thursday. “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult,” the network said. “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.”
CBS added that “with much gratitude” it looks forward to celebrating Colbert and the show in its final 10 months.
The host addressed the cancellation himself during Thursday’s taping of The Late Show at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
“Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night: Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May,” he told the audience, which then cut him off with loud booing.Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’.
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images
“Yeah, I share your feelings,” he told the crowd. “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.”
Audience members continued to loudly share their displeasure at the news, but Colbert pressed on to thank CBS, viewers, and all the The Late Show band and staff for their support over the years. “We get to do this show for each other, every day, all day, and I’ve had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years,” he said.
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Colbert concluded, “Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it. And it’s a job that I’m looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months. It’s going to be fun.”
Watch Colbert’s full remarks in the video above.
