**The news marks the end of CBS's late-night franchise which has been on air since 1993, with Colbert as the show's host since 2015.**
**The End of an Era: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to Conclude in May 2026**
**The End of an Era: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to Conclude in May 2026**
**CBS announces the surprising cancellation of The Late Show, amid financial challenges and shifting viewership trends.**
The CBS network has officially announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will cease production in May 2026, a decision that caught many by surprise. This financial move comes in the wake of challenging circumstances in the late-night television landscape and is reportedly unrelated to the show’s performance or content, according to CBS.
The announcement surfaced just two weeks after CBS faced a lawsuit settlement with former President Donald Trump linked to a contentious interview with his political rival, Kamala Harris. The cancellation ends a longstanding legacy of more than three decades of late-night talk shows on CBS and leaves the network without a late-night program for the first time since 1993.
During the Thursday taping, Colbert broke the news to the audience, which responded with an overwhelming chorus of boos. "I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. And of course, I'm grateful to you, the audience," he remarked, adding that the decision is solely corporate and not reflective of his work or the show's quality.
Colbert, who took over from David Letterman in 2015, has been known for his sharp wit and critical stance toward Trump, having hosted a variety of political figures on the show. The original Late Show was designed to rival NBC's late-night offerings, particularly following the notorious conflict between Letterman and Jay Leno regarding NBC's Tonight Show.
Speculation continues regarding the implications of this cancellation, particularly in light of recent settlement talks between Paramount, CBS's parent company, and Skydance Media. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff voiced concerns on social media about whether the cancellation was politically motivated and suggested the public deserves clarity.
As the broadcasting landscape evolves, with increasing competition from online platforms, CBS remarked on Colbert’s irreplaceability while announcing the show’s retirement. ABC and NBC are set to continue their late-night programming, with hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers firmly contracted to remain on air through 2028.
The announcement surfaced just two weeks after CBS faced a lawsuit settlement with former President Donald Trump linked to a contentious interview with his political rival, Kamala Harris. The cancellation ends a longstanding legacy of more than three decades of late-night talk shows on CBS and leaves the network without a late-night program for the first time since 1993.
During the Thursday taping, Colbert broke the news to the audience, which responded with an overwhelming chorus of boos. "I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. And of course, I'm grateful to you, the audience," he remarked, adding that the decision is solely corporate and not reflective of his work or the show's quality.
Colbert, who took over from David Letterman in 2015, has been known for his sharp wit and critical stance toward Trump, having hosted a variety of political figures on the show. The original Late Show was designed to rival NBC's late-night offerings, particularly following the notorious conflict between Letterman and Jay Leno regarding NBC's Tonight Show.
Speculation continues regarding the implications of this cancellation, particularly in light of recent settlement talks between Paramount, CBS's parent company, and Skydance Media. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff voiced concerns on social media about whether the cancellation was politically motivated and suggested the public deserves clarity.
As the broadcasting landscape evolves, with increasing competition from online platforms, CBS remarked on Colbert’s irreplaceability while announcing the show’s retirement. ABC and NBC are set to continue their late-night programming, with hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers firmly contracted to remain on air through 2028.
