An era of late-night television history is officially coming to a close on May 21, 2026. After 11 seasons and 1,801 episodes, and nine consecutive years leading the ratings race, Stephen Colbert is signing off from CBS’s flagship franchise, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
In July 2025, Paramount, the parent company of CBS, announced that the show would be ending in May 2026 (via ABC News). The decision was reportedly a purely financial one, although many reckon it stems from his fiercely political commentary and negative views of POTUS Donald Trump.
As the entertainment world prepares for this massive shift, here is everything you need to know about the historic final episode.
Where to Watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Finale?
Stephen Colbert on The Late Show | Credits: CBS
The series finale will air live on the CBS Television Network for traditional cable and broadcast viewers. You can also stream the final episode live or on demand via Paramount+. Alternative live TV streaming platforms carrying CBS include FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, and YouTube TV.
The show airs on different platforms in different regions, which you can check out below:
CanadaGlobal AustraliaChannel 10Southeast AsiaRTL CBS EntertainmentIndia and Sri LankaSTAR World Premiere HDPortugalSIC RadicalGermanySat. 1 EmotionsSouth Africae.tvUnited Kingdom & IrelandParamount+ UK and other cable channels
For other regions, check with your local cable provider or streaming platforms for availability. In case it does not air live in your location, you can always catch the show on YouTube or streaming platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV (depending on availability and licensing).
What Time to Watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Last Episode?
A still from The Late Show | Credits: CBS
The historic final episode is scheduled to broadcast on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:35 PM ET / PT/10:35 PM CT on CBS. You can check the global release schedule below.
EDT (US East Coast)11:35 PMPDT (US West Coast)11:35 PMMDT (Mountain Daylight)10:35 PMCDT (Central Daylight)10:35 PMAKDT (Alaska Daylight)11:35 PMHST (Hawaii Standard)11:35 PMUTC CT (Canada)12:05 AMGMT (Greenwich Mean Time)3:35 AMACST (Australia Standard Time)~12:00 AM IST (Indian Standard Time) 6:00 AMSAST (South African Standard Time)11:00 PM
As for other regions, check your local service provider or regional streaming platforms to see whether the show will be available live in your place. If not, you will likely have to wait till clips are uploaded on YouTube the next day or the episode is made available on regional streaming platforms based on licensing.
Who is The Guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Finale?
Credits: CBS
Credits: CBS
Credits: CBS
CBS has intentionally kept the definitive guest roster for the May 21 finale tightly under wraps to maximize the element of surprise. The detail will be revealed when the finale finally airs on Thursday.
However, looking at the monumental figures who anchored the preceding days of “Farewell Week,” the final hour is tracking to be a star-studded parade. So far, we have seen guests like David Letterman, former POTUS Barack Obama, Steven Spielberg, Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, and more during the finale week.
While the final guest remains unrevealed, Stephen Colbert did once tease during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he would very much like to have Pope Leo XIV as a guest.
What to Expect from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Final Episode?
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Credits: CBS
As the finale is just hours away, fans should not expect a standard, passive clip-show retrospective. Instead, we hope to find a highly inventive and emotional final hour that balances and pays homage to the show’s signature political sharp-wittedness, along with a grand celebration of its run.
Unlike typical late-night handoffs, CBS is not going to pass the show to a new successor, but the entire franchise is being entirely retired. Given this, many expect the show to end with a bang, but Colbert remarked to PEOPLE in a new interview that it is going to be something simple. He hopes to make people laugh and make their day better when he finally bids them farewell.
Colbert’s departure marks the official end of an era where late-night television served as the honest, comedic mirror to American democracy. It is an essential watch this Thursday night, not just to say goodbye to a master entertainer, but to witness the final curtain fall on network late-night as an influential political institution.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The last episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air on Thursday, May 21, at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS.
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