CBS has confirmed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end in May 2026, marking not only the conclusion of Colbert’s celebrated run but the final chapter of the Late Show franchise itself. In a statement, the network declared, “Stephen is irreplaceable,” adding that there are no plans to continue the show with a new host.

Colbert, addressing the audience directly, said, “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” The news shocked fans and the entertainment industry alike, as The Late Show has been a late-night staple since its debut in 1993 under David Letterman.

Colbert took over the show in 2015, transitioning from Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report to a more traditional talk show format while retaining his signature political wit and sharp satire. Under his leadership, The Late Show became the top-rated program in its time slot, particularly during the Trump presidency, when audiences gravitated toward his incisive commentary and emotionally resonant interviews.

The announcement follows recent controversy surrounding CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, which reached a confidential legal settlement with Donald Trump. Colbert had publicly criticized the deal, raising questions about whether tensions between the host and the network influenced the show’s conclusion.

Though Colbert did not elaborate on future plans, he expressed gratitude to his team and viewers: “This show has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.”

As the end of The Late Show looms, it signals not just the departure of one of late-night’s most influential voices, but potentially a broader shift in the genre’s place in modern media. With the format under increasing pressure from streaming and digital platforms, CBS’s decision not to continue the franchise may reflect a changing television landscape where traditional late-night talk shows are becoming relics of another era.