Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' Is Leaving Television, Host Reveals The Date Of Its Final Episode

After entertaining viewers for over three decades, the beloved comedy talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, is counting down the days to its very last episode. After months of speculation, the show's host, Stephen Colbert, has confirmed that the show is indeed ending and has barely four months left till it leaves CBS forever. 

Stephen Colbert reveals the final episode date of The Late Show

During his recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, which aired on January 27, 2026 (ET), Colbert confirmed that The Late Show is drawing the curtain, confirming what many fans feared after CBS announced last year that it would retire the franchise altogether. According to Colbert, the final episode of his iconic show will air on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The show’s cancellation has sent shockwaves through the global entertainment industry, and fans are already mourning its end, but Colbert remains composed and grateful.

Why CBS is axing The Late Show

Despite topping the charts for ten seasons, the makers announced in July 2025 that they would bow out in May 2026, citing financial constraints as the main reason. CBS parent Paramount Global released a statement, noting that Colbert was an "irreplaceable" asset to the franchise and that it was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late-night," and that it was "not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."

Still, the announcement's timing raised eyebrows. The network's statement came shortly after Paramount reached a USD 16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, a move that was widely criticised. Colbert himself slammed the network over the defamation lawsuit, openly mocking on air as a "big fat bribe" in exchange for a favourable decision. Less than 48 hours later, on July 17, 2025, the makers announced the cancellation of Colbert's show. 

Stephen Colbert's stance on The Late Show cancellation

Whatever the actual reason behind the iconic show's end, Colbert has remained undeterred in keeping his edge. In the months following the cancellation announcement, the 62-year-old host has continued to roast political figures, media executives, and even new FCC guidance he claims is aimed at restraining late-night hosts.

In the episode that aired on January 22, 2026, Colbert openly mentioned how the guidance specifically attempted to silence hosts like him, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel, whose shows were also temporarily pulled off, reportedly after getting pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Colbert said on air:

"Hey, I'm flattered you think that appearing on my show has the power to affect politics in any way, OK? I've been doing this job for 21 years, and let me tell you something, buddy. If our government had turned out the way I had chosen, you would not have the power to make this announcement."

Stephen Colbert's glorious journey on late-night television

Colbert signing off from the network marks the end of a glorious era in late-night television. A Comedy Central alum, he replaced David Letterman in 2015 and officially took over The Late Show for nearly 22 years, making it one of the most popular late-night shows. His career highlights include multiple Emmy awards, including the 2021 Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Variety Special. 

When Colbert began his journey with CBS’s talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, his salary was USD 6 million, and it remained that way for a few seasons. In October 2019, after Stephen signed a new contract with CBS that extended his tenure until 2023, he saw a significant salary increase. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Stephen's annual salary was boosted to USD 15 million with the new contract. Later in mid-2023, the American TV host signed a three-year contract extension.

As Colbert himself put it onstage recently, “It’s not just the end of the show. It’s the end of The Late Show.” What are your thoughts on the show's end?

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