Stephen Colbert reveals star-studded final week of The Late Show

Stephen Colbert has revealed the final lineup of guests set to appear during the closing week of The Late Show, as the long-running CBS program prepares to air its last episode on May 21, 2026.

The farewell stretch begins on May 18 with a special segment titled “The Worst of The Late Show,” which CBS is describing as “Not a Clip Show!” The episode will revisit some of the show’s most memorable moments from its run.

On May 19, Colbert will welcome filmmaker Steven Spielberg and comedian Jon Stewart, while also taking part in a musical performance with David Byrne. The following night, May 20, Colbert himself will become the subject of a “Colbert Questionert” segment featuring unnamed surprise guests, along with a performance by Bruce Springsteen.

The final episode on May 21 is expected to be an emotional send-off, although CBS has not yet confirmed who will appear for the farewell broadcast.

The announcement comes after CBS confirmed earlier this year that The Late Show would end in 2026, with parent company Paramount citing financial pressures in the late-night television landscape.

In recent weeks, the show has featured high-profile appearances from guests including Tom Hanks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama. Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver also joined Colbert for a joint interview, where they defended the importance of late-night television.

Colbert is no stranger to sign-offs, having previously ended The Colbert Report in 2014 with a star-studded finale. However, unlike that transition, his departure from The Late Show marks the end of his tenure at CBS after taking over from David Letterman in 2015.