Stephen Colbert to End The Late Show in May 2026 After a Decade of Success. CBS has officially announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude in May 2026, ending both Colbert’s 10-year run as host and the iconic Late Show franchise on the network. Stephen Colbert shared the news with his audience during a taping on July 17, emphasizing, “It’s not just the end of our show—it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS.”
The network confirmed there will be no new host following Colbert’s departure. Despite consistently leading late-night ratings for nine straight seasons, CBS cited financial challenges as the main reason for ending the show, clarifying that the decision was unrelated to the program’s success or popularity.
Colbert expressed heartfelt thanks to his dedicated 200-person staff and called CBS “great partners”
