when does colbert show end

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is currently scheduled to end on May 21, 2026.

Quick Scoop: When does Colbert’s show end?

• Stephen Colbert announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air its final episode on May 21, 2026.

• CBS has confirmed that this will also mark the end of the broader Late Show franchise after a 33‑year run starting in 1993.

• The time slot will not get a new version of The Late Show or a successor host; the brand is being retired completely.

Why is it ending?

Public reporting says CBS framed the decision as a financial move tied to the challenging late‑night TV landscape, not a reaction to Colbert’s performance or content. Articles also note this came amid broader corporate and political headwinds around CBS and its parent company.

Fans on forums and social media are treating May 2026 as the end of an era for network late‑night, since The Late Show has been a fixture since the Letterman years in the early 1990s.

At-a-glance fact table

Question	Answer
When does Colbert’s show end?	May 21, 2026 (final episode)
What show?	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Is there a new host?	No, the Late Show franchise is being retired
How long has Late Show existed?	About 33 years, since 1993

[7][9][1][5] **TL;DR:** If you’re planning a watch party or just don’t want to miss it, circle **May 21, 2026** as the night Colbert signs off from _The Late Show_ for good.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.