Stephen Colbert will host a lineup of fellow late-night comedians for a series of final episodes before "The Late Show" concludes [1].
The gathering marks a rare convergence of the industry's top personalities as the program ends its run on CBS. The send-off serves as a transition for the late-night landscape following the network's decision to cancel the show [4].
The series finale is scheduled to air May 21, 2026 [1]. In the lead-up to the finale, Colbert will welcome several prominent peers. Jimmy Kimmel is set to appear on May 11, 2026 [2], while David Letterman will return to the program on May 14, 2026 [1].
Other confirmed guests appearing in the final week include John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers [3]. The episodes will be filmed at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
While the guest lineup suggests a celebratory atmosphere, the cancellation has drawn sharp criticism from some former hosts. David Letterman said CBS were "lying weasels" over the decision to end the program [4].
Colbert's tenure on the show has been a cornerstone of the network's late-night programming. The upcoming episodes are intended to provide a comprehensive farewell to the audience and a reunion with the figures who shaped the genre's modern era [3].
“CBS are "lying weasels" over the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."”
The cancellation of 'The Late Show' and the subsequent high-profile reunion of hosts signal a shifting priority for network television. As linear viewership declines, the move to end a flagship late-night program suggests that CBS may be pivoting away from the traditional monologue-and-guest format in favor of more cost-effective or digitally native content.
