Stephen Colbert sets final ‘Late Show’ episode date

Stephen Colbert will host his final ‘Late Show’ episode this year, ending over three decades of CBS late-night history

Stephen Colbert has announced the official end date for his run on The Late Show. During a taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers, Colbert revealed that the series finale will air Thursday, May 21. The news confirms what CBS had announced last summer, that the show would conclude at the close of the 2025–26 broadcast season.

Colbert took over the iconic Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman’s retirement, transforming the programme into a politically engaged platform. Across nine seasons, his sharp satire, earnest commentary, and high-profile interviews helped the show remain a dominant force in late-night television.

“This is not just the end of our show, but the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Colbert said, emphasising that the franchise itself will be retired, not replaced. The decision marks the conclusion of a cultural institution that has been a staple of late-night television since Letterman launched the show in 1993 from the Ed Sullivan Theater.

With the May 21 finale now set, CBS and Colbert have just under four months to prepare a farewell to a franchise that has spanned over 4,200 episodes and shaped late-night television through turbulent political eras. Fans have already expressed a mix of excitement and nostalgia, sharing their hopes for Colbert’s next chapter, with many wishing he finds another platform to continue his unique blend of humour and commentary.

Colbert’s appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers is scheduled to air Tuesday night, providing another look at the host before his departure. While the end of The Late Show closes a significant chapter in television history, Colbert’s influence on political satire and late-night programming remains indelible.