Here’s the latest on Stephen Colbert’s final show:
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to end on May 21, 2026, marking the conclusion of its long-running run on CBS. This was publicly announced by CBS officials and Colbert himself earlier in the year.
- The network described the cancellation as a financial decision amid challenges in the late-night landscape, rather than a reflection on Colbert’s performance or content. Colbert’s departure ends a 33-year era of the franchise on CBS.
- The finale week has featured high-profile guests and special moments; for example, the penultimate show included a performance by Bruce Springsteen, and recent installments have included guests like Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, and David Byrne. The final episode will have an extended runtime with a secrecy around the last guests.
- Pundit and press coverage highlights that reactions to the ending are mixed, with some critics noting political optics given Colbert’s outspoken views, while others frame it as a business decision in a challenging market.
If you’d like, I can pull a compact timeline of the key dates and confirm the finale guests as they’re officially announced, or summarize what Colbert has said about his plans after The Late Show.
Sources
Stephen Colbert has opened up about the impending conclusion of the longtime late night show currently hosted by him on CBS.While The Late Show With Stephen Colbert's permanent suspension was announced in July last year, its final...
www.geo.tv"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.
www.cbsnews.comThis Thursday marks the end of an era for The Late Show – a beloved US cultural touchstone which is about to disappear. Here's everything you need to know about the final episode, the guests, the reasons behind CBS pulling the plug, and what could be next for Stephen Colbert...
www.euronews.comStephen Colbert's final episode of 'The Late Show' will air May 21, ET can confirm. The talk show host, who took over for David Letterman in 2015, told ET last year what he plans to do once the series ends.
www.etonline.comThirty-three years of late night history ends in May.
www.hollywoodreporter.com"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.
www.cbsnews.com"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.
www.cbsnews.comThere are just four months left of Colbert's late night show
www.independent.co.uk