Lights Out for Late Night: CBS Cancels ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’

In a shocking move, CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” effective May 2026. The decision comes as a surprise to many, given the show’s popularity and Colbert’s sharp wit. According to CBS, the cancellation is a “purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” unrelated to the show’s performance or content. The network plans to retire the “Late Show” franchise entirely, with Colbert not being replaced.

Colbert broke the news to his studio audience, expressing gratitude to CBS and his fans while acknowledging the shared disappointment. “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away,” Colbert said. The audience responded with boos, and Colbert quipped, “Yeah, I share your feelings.” Despite the cancellation, Colbert and his team will continue to produce the show until its conclusion in May 2026.

The timing of the cancellation has sparked speculation, particularly given Colbert’s recent criticism of Paramount’s settlement with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview. Senator Adam Schiff, a guest on Colbert’s show, questioned whether the cancellation was politically motivated, stating, “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.” CBS maintains that the decision is financial, citing the challenges facing traditional broadcast television in the streaming era.