Video Stephen Colbert's Final Report - ABC News
The final episode of "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central was full of hilarious, off-the-wall moments.
abcnews.go.comStephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show is scheduled for May 21, 2026. CBS announced in 2025 that the show would end in 2026 due to a financial decision, and Colbert confirmed the finale date in January 2026, with the network emphasizing the decision was financial and not related to content or performance.[3][5][9]
Latest highlights
- The finale is set for May 21, 2026, marking the end of Colbert’s tenure after about a decade as host.[5][3]
- In the weeks leading up to the finale, Colbert has continued his standard late-night duties with tributes, reflections, and guest appearances as the show nears its curtain call (final week coverage and farewell moments have been reported by major outlets).[4]
What this means
- CBS is retiring The Late Show franchise, signaling a broader shift in CBS/Paramount’s late-night strategy rather than a reflection on Colbert’s performance.[9][3]
- Colbert’s farewell is expected to be a milestone TV moment, featuring retrospective clips, high-profile guests, and emotional tributes reflecting his impact on late-night television.[5]
If you’d like, I can pull a quick timeline of confirmed milestones and a shortlist of notable guests announced for the finale week. Also, I can fetch the most recent updates from reliable outlets and summarize them with citations.