Jimmy Kimmel has been on the air as a late-night host for about 23 years, with his show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” debuting on January 26, 2003 and continuing through 2026.

Quick Scoop

  • “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” premiered on ABC on January 26, 2003, originally as a post–Super Bowl lead-out show.
  • The show has run continuously (with normal breaks and brief pandemic-related pauses), making Kimmel one of the longest-running current late-night hosts.
  • As of early 2026, that puts him at roughly 23 years on the air in late-night television.

Tiny Timeline

  1. 2003: Show premieres after the Super Bowl as ABC’s new late-night entry.
  1. 2013: Moves up to the 11:35 p.m. slot to compete directly with other big late-night shows.
  1. 2020: Briefly shifts format and location due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including at-home episodes.
  1. 2020s: Continues as a key ABC late-night franchise, frequently noted as having been on the air for “over two decades.”

In forum and media discussions, Kimmel is often described as a late-night “institution,” reflecting how long he’s been a nightly presence on TV.

TL;DR: If you’re wondering how long has Jimmy Kimmel been on the air , the answer is: since January 26, 2003—over two decades of late-night TV and counting.

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