Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS. This follows CBS’s announcement last year that The Late Show would end in May 2026 as part of a broader franchise retirement. Several high-profile guests and tributes have been reported in the lead-up to the finale. If you’d like, I can pull up a concise tl;dr of the finale week lineup and how to stream the finale, with links.[1][2][3][5][7]
Sources
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which CBS announced in July would end in 10 months' time, has finally set a final air date.
www.usatoday.comIn a shocking move, CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year, potentially exiting the late-night television business altogether.
www.cnn.comStephen Colbert has opened up about the impending conclusion of the longtime late night show currently hosted by him on CBS.While The Late Show With Stephen Colbert's permanent suspension was announced in July last year, its final...
www.geo.tv‘The Late Show’ is officially coming to an end this month. Here’s when you can tune into Colbert’s final show on CBS.
hollywoodlife.comIt's the end of an era.
mashable.comSix months after CBS announced that 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' would be ending, its award-winning host has revealed the final episode date.
ew.com"It feels real now," he said.
www.huffpost.comStephen Colbert, host of 'The Late Show,' has announced the program will end in May 2026. CBS has said it will retire the franchise, citing a 'financial decision'. Colbert broke the news to his studio audience during Thursday night's taping: 'I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May.' The news of the show's cancellation was met with boos of disappointment from the audience and fans. 'Yeah! I...
www.independent.co.uk