TV Earthquake: Stephen Colbert Drops Bombshell—’The Late Show’ Canceled Forever! No Replacement, No Farewell Tour, Just Gone. Fans Devastated, Hollywood Stunned, Industry in Shock as Iconic Late-Night Institution Abruptly Ends. Social Media Meltdown, Colbert Speaks Out: “This Is All Just Going Away”

The late-night talk show host confirmed the news during the July 17 episode.

Stephen Colbert announced the ending of his late-night talk show.

On July 17, during the CBS’ show’s taping, the host confirmed that “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will end in May 2026 at the end of the 2025-2026 season. The news was shared on social media, with Colbert sharing that he’s not being replaced, the show is just “going away.”

“Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the ‘Late Show’ in May,” Colbert said in the clip, as the audience booed. “And, yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS.”

Adding, “I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”

Colbert continued by saying that the people at CBS “have been great partners,” thanked the Tiffany network for the opportunity, and expressed his gratitude to the audience.

“And of course, I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, all around the world, Mr. Mrs. America and all the ships at sea. I’m grateful to share the stage with this band, these artists over here every night,” he said, adding that he’s “extraordinarily, deeply grateful” to everyone who works on the show.

“We get to do this show for each other every day, all day, and I’ve had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years,” he continued. “And let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it, and it’s a job that I’m looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”

The comments section is filled with messages of shock and disappointment. Many applauded Colbert for his work on the show over the years and expressed their hope that he gets to share his opinions on another platform.

Colbert has hosted “The Late Show” since 2015, taking over creator David Letterman. The franchise first premiered in 1993.

In a statement shared following the news, George Cheeks, Co-CEO Paramount Global and President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS, Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment, and David Stapf, President, CBS Studios, called Colbert “irreplaceable.”

“We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,” the statement reads in part, explaining, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

They noted that their admiration and respect for Colbert and his team made “this agonizing decision even more difficult.”

Touching on Colbert’s many wins, including his No. 1 ratings at one point, they added, “The accomplishments of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”