CBS Announces Cancellation of Late Night With Stephen Colbert in 2026
In a surprising decision, CBS revealed that it will end Late Night With Stephen Colbert in May 2026, marking the network’s exit from the late-night TV arena.
Colbert addressed his audience during Thursday’s taping, saying:
Next year will be our final season. CBS will be stopping our show in May, ending the era of The Late Show.
He expressed gratitude towards CBS for the opportunity and praised his viewers worldwide for their support.
Stephen Colbert during a recent taping of his show
The move aligns with a broader shift at CBS, now controlled by the Ellison brothers, who are known to prioritize removing Trump critics from the network. This has led to speculation that other prominent critics, like Jon Stewart, could also be ousted from their shows, especially with the network’s recent focus on reshaping its programming line-up.
Despite Late Night’s strong ratings historically, the impending change underscores the influence of political tides on media decisions. Critics suggest that if Colbert’s show had been purely about ratings, networks would compete fiercely to retain him. How Colbert’s future unfolds may serve as a gauge of whether major media outlets are willing to stand up to pressures related to the Trump era.
