It’s coming sooner rather than later, unfortunately. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is officially preparing to close a historic 33‑year chapter on CBS — a late‑night era that began with David Letterman and will now take its final bow this spring.
Colbert revealed the news during a Monday taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers, confirming that May 21, 2026 will mark the show’s final curtain call. After more than three decades in the iconic 11:30 p.m. slot, the lights will dim, the desk will clear, and one of television’s longest‑running late‑night institutions will slip into forever slumber.
Behind the scenes, media‑watchers have been buzzing about the shifting landscape at CBS — especially under its new ownership — with some observers suggesting that the current U.S. administration’s broader push around media control and censorship has influenced the network’s direction. Whether coincidence or corporate climate, the timing has raised eyebrows across the industry.
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Regardless of the forces at play, the end of The Late Show marks the end of an era — one built on Letterman’s irreverence, Colbert’s sharp wit, and a cultural footprint that shaped generations of late‑night viewers.
Sound off — is this the end of late‑night as we know it?
