Colbert announced Thursday, July 17 that the show is "going away" in May 2026. Colbert clarified that he's not just being replaced, but CBS is ending the show altogether. Paramount has said the news is "purely a financial decision." The longtime talk show host shared the news with his studio audience ahead of the show, leaving fans disappointed.

CBS will end "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and retire "The Late Show" franchise in May 2026, the company announced Thursday, calling it "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.

In a shocking move, CBS is ending “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” next year, and apparently exiting the late-night television business altogether. The network, citing financial pressures,