Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show is set for May 21, 2026. CBS announced in mid-2025 that the show would end in May 2026, and Colbert confirmed the exact finale date in January 2026 during a taping and later interviews. This means the current season will be his last on CBS, after which the Late Show franchise concludes. For ongoing updates, you may want to check CBS News and Entertainment outlets as the date approaches. [cite sources: multiple outlets reporting the May 21, 2026 finale date]
Sources
"The Late Show" franchise will "end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season," CBS said.
www.cbsnews.comStephen Colbert revealed that the final episode of 'The Late Show' will air on Thursday, May 21, bringing an end to an iconic CBS franchise.
variety.com"It feels real now," he said.
www.huffpost.comIn a shocking move, CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year, potentially exiting the late-night television business altogether.
www.cnn.com"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which CBS announced in July would end in 10 months' time, has finally set a final air date.
www.usatoday.comStephen Colbert has finally locked in the end of "The Late Show" ... with the curtain set to fall for good on May 21, closing out a CBS late-night run that’s lasted more than 30 years.
www.tmz.comSix months after CBS announced that 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' would be ending, its award-winning host has revealed the final episode date.
ew.com