CBS to Cancel ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ in May 2026/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ CBS has announced the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, ending the program in May 2026 after over a decade on air. The decision comes amid rising financial pressures and shortly after Colbert’s vocal criticism of a Trump–Paramount legal settlement. While CBS cites cost concerns, political backlash suggests deeper controversy over the show’s fate.
Colbert Late Show Cancellation Quick Looks
- Cancellation Date: Final show to air in May 2026
- Official Reason: CBS cites financial challenges, not ratings or content
- Colbert’s Reaction: Shared news with audience, said he won’t be replaced
- Recent Controversy: Colbert blasted CBS’s parent company for settling with Trump
- Audience Response: Boos and groans during announcement at Ed Sullivan Theater
- Political Implications: Democrats demand answers, suspect political pressure
- Ratings Success: Colbert led broadcast late-night viewership in 2025
- Award Recognition: Emmy-nominated, Peabody-winning program
- Industry Trend: CBS also canceled After Midnight amid industry-wide late-night cuts
- Public Reaction: Celebrities, lawmakers, and fans mourn exit and blast CBS
CBS to Cancel ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ in May 2026
Deep Look
NEW YORK — The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its celebrated run in May 2026, CBS confirmed Thursday, marking a seismic shift in the late-night television landscape and sparking speculation over the motivations behind the cancellation.
The announcement, described as a “financial decision” by CBS executives, comes just days after Stephen Colbert condemned his network’s parent company, Paramount Global, for reaching a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a disputed 60 Minutes segment. The settlement coincides with Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media, which requires Trump administration approval.
“I learned Wednesday night that after a decade on air, next year will be our last season,” Colbert told his studio audience. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
The crowd responded with groans and boos, reflecting the widespread disappointment from fans who have embraced Colbert’s signature political satire and sharp wit since his debut in 2015.
CBS Defends Decision, Denies Political Motives
In a joint statement, three top executives at CBS and Paramount praised Colbert’s contributions and described The Late Show as “a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.” However, they insisted that the cancellation had “nothing to do with ratings or content,” emphasizing instead the “challenging economic backdrop in late night.”
Despite their assurances, the timing of the decision—on the heels of Colbert’s on-air condemnation of the Trump-Paramount settlement—raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. On Monday, Colbert derided the $16 million agreement as “a big fat bribe,” adding:
“I don’t know if anything will repair my trust in this company, but just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”
Political, Celebrity & Public Reactions
Democratic lawmakers were quick to link Colbert’s departure to political motivations. Sen. Adam Schiff of California demanded public accountability from CBS:
“If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren echoed that sentiment, calling for transparency and condemning what she termed “media intimidation.”
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis, an upcoming Colbert guest, tied the cancellation to broader efforts to defund public broadcasting:
“They’re trying to silence people, but that won’t work. We’ll just get louder.”
Meanwhile, fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel posted to Instagram:
“Love you Stephen,” followed by an expletive directed at CBS.
Still Winning in Ratings and Awards
Despite its cancellation, The Late Show has remained a top performer in late-night television. According to Nielsen ratings, Colbert averaged 2.417 million viewers across 41 episodes this year—leading his timeslot and outperforming rivals.
In 2021, the show won a Peabody Award, and it just earned its sixth Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series. Industry experts have long praised Colbert’s unique ability to blend celebrity interviews with sharp political commentary.
Broader Industry Decline in Late-Night
CBS’s decision comes amid an industry-wide contraction in late-night programming. Viewer habits have shifted toward on-demand clips and streaming platforms, reducing traditional ad revenue. CBS recently canceled Taylor Tomlinson’s “After Midnight”, and NBC scaled back its Tonight Show operations.
Yet Colbert’s success seemed to insulate him from such cuts—until now.
“If CBS thinks people are just going to swallow this, they’re really deluded,” said Bill Carter, author of The Late Shift.
Colbert’s Legacy
Colbert began hosting The Late Show in 2015, taking over from David Letterman, who launched the franchise in 1993. Colbert brought a sharper political edge to the show, building on his success with The Colbert Report and The Daily Show under Jon Stewart.
His debut guests included George Clooney and Jeb Bush, with Colbert quipping that Bush’s Florida governorship didn’t prepare him for Donald Trump’s rise:
“You’d think that much exposure to oranges and crazy people would have prepared him for Donald Trump. Evidently not.”
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