CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, effective May 2026. The network stated the decision is a financial move due to challenges in the late-night television industry. The cancellation is not related to the show’s performance or content, according to a CBS statement. The Late Show franchise will end with Colbert’s departure.
The announcement was first reported by Variety. CBS noted the decision was difficult, citing respect for Colbert and his team. The show experienced a week-long hiatus in 2023 due to Colbert’s ruptured appendix surgery.
Late-night viewership has declined 30% since 2015, according to the Television Academy. A 2022 study in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media linked the decline to cord-cutting and shifting audience preferences.
Paramount is currently involved in a proposed merger with Skydance, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. No replacement for The Late Show has been announced.
