Stephen Colbert Says He Discussed Running, Confirms Final Show Date

Stephen Colbert said in an appearance on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers that he has discussed running for public office with his family and his faith leader and confirmed The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will air its final episode on May 21, 2026.

CBS said ending The Late Show was "purely a financial decision" and announced the Late Show franchise will conclude after a 33-year run, a move that followed Colbert's on-air criticism of Paramount Global's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump.

George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS Entertainment, told reporters the program was losing "significant" amounts and was "not sustainable to continue," while petition organizers say more than 200,000 people have signed a petition to keep Colbert on the air.

The Late Show has averaged 1.9 million total viewers and rose to 2.4 million in the week after the cancellation was confirmed, and CBS said the program costs about $100 million to produce annually.

Colbert said he would "consider" running for office "if there is some way for me to serve the American people," and one report suggested he has a $13.5 million deal with Netflix, which Colbert joked on-air was "not enough money."