Stephen Colbert Reveals Date of Final ‘Late Show' Episode
Stephen Colbert revealed that the final episode of 'The Late Show' will air on Thursday, May 21, bringing an end to an iconic CBS franchise.
variety.comHere’s what’s happened recently with Stephen Colbert and The Late Show.
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026. Colbert announced the show's final episode date as May 21, 2026, marking the end of the CBS franchise for this program. He conveyed the news publicly to audiences during a taping, and CBS later confirmed the decision as a financial one tied to the late-night landscape.[1][3][4][5]
- CBS described the cancellation as purely a financial decision, not related to the show's performance or content, and did not indicate a replacement for Colbert. Colbert has suggested he’ll stay involved in some capacity with the late-night team or pursue new projects in collaboration with his current colleagues.[2][4][6]
- Reactions to the news were mixed, with fans and industry watchers noting the shift reflects broader changes in late-night TV, including advertising pressures and audience fragmentation across platforms.[4][6]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline (announcements, date, network statements) or summarize what Colbert has said about his next steps and potential projects. I can also provide direct links to the cited articles.