Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to air on May 21, 2026.

Quick Scoop: When is Stephen Colbert’s last show?

  • CBS has set May 21, 2026 as the final broadcast date for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
  • This episode will mark the end of both Colbert’s run and the entire Late Show franchise on CBS after more than three decades on air.
  • Colbert revealed the specific end date during a guest appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers , which was taped in late January 2026 and then picked up by multiple outlets and fan forums.

Why this is a trending topic

  • The show has been a dominant force in late night for years, frequently ranking at or near #1 in its time slot and shaping political and pop-culture conversation.
  • The decision to end the show — and retire the franchise rather than replace Colbert with a new host — has been framed by CBS and Paramount as a financial move, not a response to ratings or content issues.
  • On forums and social media, fans are already speculating about:
    • What the final week of shows will look like (special guests, callbacks, long-time bits).
* Whether Colbert will land another project in late night, streaming, or a different format altogether.

What to watch for next

  1. Guest lineup for the final stretch – There’s ongoing chatter about “dream guests,” including a hoped-for papal appearance referenced in entertainment coverage.
  1. CBS’s 11:35 p.m. slot – Current reporting suggests there is no immediate successor planned and that the slot may be reimagined rather than handed to another traditional late-night talker.
  1. Colbert’s next move – Given his history with The Colbert Report and then The Late Show , many expect some kind of new creative chapter after a break.

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