CBS will end "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and retire "The Late Show" franchise in May 2026, the company announced Thursday.

Network late-night shows have been losing viewers for years, but Colbert‘s program is primed for a ratings bump right now.

The decision "is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount," the network said.

CBS came under fire after canceling Stephen Colbert‘s The Late Show — but when does the last episode air? Colbert, 61, took over hosting the Late Show franchise following David Letterman’s step back in 2015 and celebrated nearly a decade on the air before shocking viewers with the cancellation news.

CBS staffers are questioning the motives and timing behind the network’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .” The late-night landscape was rocked when CBS and host Stephen Colbert announced “ The Late Show ” was coming to an end in May 2026, ending the franchise after more than 30 years on the air.

A major Hollywood union is speaking out after the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and demanding action.

A new report from Puck's Matt Belloni is shedding light on the finances that led to CBS' bombshell cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel blasted CBS over its decision to cancel “The Late Show,” and Jimmy Fallon said that he was “shocked” by the move. “Love you Stephen,” Kimmel, 57, wrote on his Instagram Story on Thursday night. “F–k you and all your Sheldons CBS.”

The award-winning news comedy show, which propelled Jon Stewart to fame and saw him return as a one-day-a-week anchor in 2024, is adding a new rotating host to its lineup.

CBS could not figure out a path to profitability in an entertainment world increasingly dominated by streaming.