In a move few saw coming, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is officially ending in May 2026, bringing the curtain down on one of the most iconic franchises in late-night television history. Colbert made the announcement during a taping of the show, telling the audience:

“I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”

That’s right — CBS is not recasting the chair or rebooting the format. Instead, the network has chosen to retire The Late Show entirely after Colbert’s departure, ending a legendary run that dates all the way back to David Letterman’s original tenure in 1993 and continuing through Colbert’s successful takeover in 2015.

In a joint statement, CBS leadership paid tribute to Colbert’s run and confirmed the franchise’s retirement:

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,” said George Cheeks, Amy Reisenbach, and David Stapf, representing Paramount Global, CBS Entertainment, and CBS Studios, respectively.

CBS clarified that the decision to end The Late Show was not due to ratings, content, or anything related to Colbert’s performance. Instead, they cited “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” The move reflects larger shifts in media consumption, as linear broadcast late-night shows face increased pressure from streaming, social media, and a fragmenting viewer base. But for many fans, it just marks the end of an era.

A History of ‘The Late Show’

Colbert took over The Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman’s retirement and quickly transformed it into a politically sharp, culturally resonant force in late night. His coverage during the first Trump administration brought in record-breaking ratings, and his smart blend of satire, sincerity, and humanity helped The Late Show become the #1 late-night program in total viewers for multiple years.

For now, Colbert has just under a year left behind the desk, and CBS plans to continue airing The Late Show through May 2026. As for what comes next in that timeslot — or for Colbert himself — no announcements have been made. But it’s a sad sign of the times that the era of late night might be coming to an end.