Stephen Colbert reveals date of final Late Show broadcast
There are just four months left of Colbert's late night show
www.independent.co.ukStephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show aired on May 21, 2026. CBS announced in 2025 that the show would end in May 2026 for financial reasons, with Colbert addressing the finale during the run-up to its final week.[3][4][5]
Key points
- Final broadcast date: May 21, 2026. This was publicly confirmed by multiple outlets after CBS announced the cancellation earlier in 2025.[2][5]
- Reason for ending: CBS/Paramount cited financial considerations and a shift in the late-night landscape; Colbert’s tenure remained highly rated, but the franchise was retired as part of a broader cost/strategy decision.[5][2]
- Final week: Colbert and CBS promotions framed the finale as a milestone farewell, with tributes and retrospective moments anticipated, as is common for long-running late-night finales.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can pull a short timeline of events leading to the finale and summarize notable guest moments from the final episodes. I can also provide direct quotes from Colbert and CBS statements if you want precise wording.