It’s the end of an era.
The Late Show, which began with David Letterman in 1993, is coming to an end. After being unceremoniously canceled in July 2025, the show will have its final episode this month. Stephen Colbert will no longer be a daily late night staple, and aside from co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie, his future plans remain unknown.
Sam Haysom
May 11, 2026
The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air on Thursday, May 21. As Colbert confirmed to Seth Meyers, this means there are only two weeks of new shows left. It’s not just Colbert leaving; the entire Late Show is ending.
To watch the final episode, tune in at 11:35 p.m. EST live on CBS. For those without CBS, videos from the show will be available on the official Late Show YouTube channel.
The guest lineup for the penultimate week includes:
– Monday, May 11: Guests TBA
– Tuesday, May 12: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal
– Wednesday, May 13: Guests TBA
– Thursday, May 14: David Letterman, Performance by The Strokes
Stephen Colbert announced the show’s cancellation in July 2025. He had criticized his network for making a $16 million settlement to Donald Trump, calling it a “big fat bribe.” However, CBS stated the cancellation was for financial reasons, not related to the show’s performance or content. Critics have noted CBS’ need for Trump’s approval for a merger during that time and pointed to his dislike of late-night hosts critical of him.