Updated May 21, 2026 — Stephen Colbert took the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater for the final broadcast of The Late Show on CBS, closing a franchise that has run for 33 years. The farewell program drew a stream of high-profile guests and fellow hosts who joined Colbert in celebrating the series, trading stories, music and emotional moments in the run-up to the finale.
In recent nights Tom Hanks presented Colbert with a typewriter, while Jon Stewart arrived with two massage chairs and a surprise serenade from Andra Day. Colbert and David Letterman — who launched the Late Show franchise in 1993 — recreated a classic stunt by tossing set furniture from the theater roof, complete with pointed remarks aimed at corporate decision makers.
Letterman reflected on the show’s history, noting the role he and others played in building the theater and the audience that has supported it. Other memorable appearances this week included musician David Byrne, who performed Burning Down the House with Colbert, and Bruce Springsteen, who joined the show while on tour.
CBS had announced in July that it would retire The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the end of the season, calling the choice a financial decision amid a challenging late-night landscape. The announcement prompted skepticism from some viewers and critics who suspected political motives, given Colbert’s outspoken commentary. Several visiting hosts and friends addressed the circumstances on air, with Jon Stewart praising Colbert’s grace and Jimmy Fallon calling the end abrupt and disappointing.
Colbert, 62, became host of the Late Show in September 2015 after Letterman retired. He arrived with a well-established television pedigree: nine years at The Colbert Report on Comedy Central and time as a correspondent on The Daily Show. Over his decade at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Colbert blended political satire, personal reflection and wide-ranging interviews, turning the program into a late-night ratings leader.
CBS said The Late Show was the number one late-night program for nine consecutive seasons. The series also won the Emmy for outstanding talk series last September, a recognition that Colbert accepted with gratitude while urging the tradition of late-night television to continue.
In recent weeks Colbert reunited with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver — the group behind the Strike Force Five podcast they launched during the 2023 industry strikes — to reminisce and celebrate. In acknowledgement of Colbert’s final broadcast, both Kimmel and Fallon planned reruns in their usual time slots Thursday.
CBS has announced that Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take over the 11:35 p.m. ET time slot. Allen called the cancellation unfortunate and said he hopes to retain late-night viewers while praising Colbert.
When Colbert first told his studio audience about the show’s impending end last summer, he expressed mixed emotions about leaving the daily routine he loved. In later interviews he said he did not take the experience for granted and suggested the change might open opportunities to do other projects with more energy and time.
Celebrities and frequent guests have been vocal about Colbert’s impact. Tom Hanks wondered how entertainment would fare without him, and Oprah Winfrey thanked him for ‘‘holding the space for laughter’’ for audiences over the years.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert signed off a long-running chapter of late-night television on CBS while Colbert himself hinted at future projects and a step back from the daily grind. Final-night guest details were withheld in advance. The program aired at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and was also available to stream on Paramount+.