CBS is ending ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year
In a shocking move, CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year, potentially exiting the late-night television business altogether.
www.cnn.comHere’s the latest on Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show.
Direct answer
- The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled for May 21, 2026.
Context and key details
- CBS announced the show’s cancellation as a network decision tied to financial factors in late-night TV, and Colbert has publicly spoken about the end feeling real as the date approaches [independent: Jan 27, 2026; Variety: Jan 27, 2026; CNN: 2025 coverage].[1][2][3]
- Colbert discussed the upcoming finale during appearances around late January 2026, confirming May 21 as the finale date and expressing a mix of reflection and emotion about concluding the run [People: Jan 27, 2026; Hollywood Reporter: Jan 27, 2026].[4][6]
- The cancellation was framed by CBS as a financial decision not related to the show’s quality or performance, with statements emphasizing it’s about the broader late-night advertising environment and strategic priorities for the network [CNN: 2025; Variety: 2026; CBS/People statements cited in coverage].[2][3][5][4]
What this means going forward
- Colbert has indicated he and his team will transition to new projects together after the finale, though specific future plans were not fully disclosed at the time of the announcements [Hollywood Reporter: 2026; ET Online: 2026].[6][10]
- The Late Show’s end marks a significant shift for CBS’s late-night lineup, which has faced ongoing industry-wide changes in viewer habits and ad revenue, prompting the network to retire the franchise [CNN: 2025; Variety: 2026].[3][2]
For follow-up
- If you’d like, I can pull summaries of Colbert’s farewell episodes, notable guest appearances planned for the finale, or a brief timeline of announcements leading up to the May 21 air date. I can also track new developments as the finale approaches.