Stephen Colbert announced a star-studded guest lineup for his final week as host of The Late Show on CBS.
The farewell sequence marks the end of an era for late-night television, as Colbert concludes an 11-season tenure that began in 2015. His departure signals a transition for the network's flagship comedy program at CBS Studio 50 in New York City.
The guest list for the final four episodes [1] includes high-profile figures such as Jon Stewart and Steven Spielberg. Other reported guests for the closing week include David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen, though some industry reports vary on the specific list of appearances.
Colbert has spent over a decade steering the show through a volatile political landscape. The final episode is scheduled to air on May 21, 2026 [2].
The announcement comes as the host prepares to exit the role he inherited from David Letterman. The upcoming week of programming is designed to serve as a retrospective and celebration of his time in the chair, featuring a mix of long-time collaborators and cultural icons.
While the full roster of guests for every remaining episode has not been detailed in a single comprehensive list, the presence of Stewart and Spielberg underscores the influence Colbert maintained throughout his run. The final episodes will be taped in New York City before the series concludes this Thursday.
“Stephen Colbert has announced a star-studded guest lineup for his final week”
Colbert's exit represents more than just a personnel change; it marks the conclusion of a specific style of political satire that dominated the late-night landscape for the last decade. By bringing back figures like Jon Stewart, Colbert is effectively closing a loop on the lineage of the 'Daily Show' style of comedy that he helped pioneer and then transitioned into a mainstream network setting.
