Here’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.
Sources
Stephen 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.comIn a shocking move, CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year, potentially exiting the late-night television business altogether.
www.cnn.comThe host, appearing on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers,' admitted he wasn't "thrilled" about the end of the long-running program.
www.hollywoodreporter.comStephen Colbert announced that CBS will wrap up The Late Show in May 2026, marking the end of an era for the top-rated late-night programme.
news.abplive.comThere are just four months left of Colbert's late night show
www.independent.co.ukStephen Colbert confirmed that the final episode of 'The Late Show' will air in May during an appearance on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The final 'Late Show' episode will…
people.comStephen 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.com