After years dominating late-night television with sharp wit and fearless satire, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is officially ending its historic run. Whatever hope there was for a new season beyond the 2025-26 broadcast year, CBS has shut that down, confirming the show will conclude in May 2026, and that no revival or extension is in the cards. 

Die-hard viewers who’ve heard “my… friends, let’s get to work” every night know this feels like losing a nightly ritual. But there is an opportunity to see Colbert live one last time this spring before he says goodbye at the historic Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City, the very stage where legends have stood for decades.

The end of an era is rapidly approaching. Stephen Colbert himself announced that The Late Show will officially sign off on Thursday, May 21, 2026, marking the final episode after more than a decade as host. The show will continue to broadcast weeknights through May out of the Ed Sullivan Theatre, though some tapings are already sold out as fans rush to reserve spots.

The news that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be ending first broke in mid-July 2025, when CBS officially announced on July 17, 2025 that it would conclude the show and retire The Late Show franchise altogether. The network’s public statement described the move as purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. CBS emphasized that it was not due to ratings or the quality of the show, which had consistently been one of the strongest performers in its time slot.

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For viewers who have spent a decade letting Colbert tuck them in with monologues and cold opens, the bigger question now is how to be there when it does end.

Fans who want to be in the audience need to secure taping tickets through CBS’s official website or trusted third-party ticket platforms, like 1iota.com. CBS typically releases free tickets for The Late Show live tapings well in advance, though availability becomes limited as shows sell out. Fans are encouraged to sign up for official notification lists as soon as possible. Currently, many tapings from January to February are already listed as fully booked.

Because once you have locked in a seat at the Ed Sullivan Theatre, it is worth remembering exactly what you are witnessing.  

Stephen Colbert started hosting The Late Show on September 8, 2015, taking the reins from David Letterman and bringing his signature satire and political edge to late-night TV. For years, Colbert’s mix of topical monologues, eclectic guests, and cultural commentary made the show not just a ratings staple, but a centerpiece of American television.

Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and The Late Show Band, the program earned critical acclaim, including Peabody Awards and numerous Emmy nominations  for blending humor with insight. Colbert has talked politics, entertainment, business, music and more, always with that trademark grin and knowing glance to camera that made many of us tune in night after night.

This is truly the end of an era in late night television. Whether you have been with Colbert since the first monologue or just discovered his sharp satire along the way, his final episodes are not to be missed. 

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What are your thoughts on The Late Show ending? Share in the comments below!