What Is Stephen Colbert Doing Next? Inside His Plans After the End of “The Late Show”
What Is Stephen Colbert Doing Next? Inside His Plans After the End of “The Late Show”
Erica MarrisonFri, May 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM UTC
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Stephen Colbert hosting 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on January 26, 2022
Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
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Stephen Colbert began hosting The Late Show in September 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was canceled after nearly 11 years, with the last episode airing in May 2026
Colbert spoke to PEOPLE about spending time with his family and working on a movie
After years at the helm of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, comedian and host Stephen Colbert is looking forward to a new chapter.
Colbert first took over The Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman’s retirement. Over the years, he became known for blending humor, political satire and heartfelt interviews — a balance that resonated with audiences — especially during turbulent cultural moments.
Nearly a year after CBS announced it would end the program, Colbert filmed his last episode on May 21. Speaking to PEOPLE for his cover story, he shared that he'll be taking a moment to figure out his next step.
"There's so much to think about to do the show. So I don’t have much better of an answer than most college seniors do, which is I’ve got to finish this first, because it takes almost the entirety of my brain to do this show," Colbert said, ahead of his final episode. "So we’ll land this plane and we’ll check out the view from there. But I’m available. Yes.”
So, what is Stephen Colbert doing next? Here's everything to know about the comedian’s exit from late night and his potential future plans.
When is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ending?
Stephen Colbert hosting 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on June 26, 2017
Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
The final episode of The Late Show aired on CBS on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:35 p.m. It's available to watch on Paramount+.
Why is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ending?
Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'
Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
In July 2025, CBS announced the show’s cancellation; it came after Colbert criticized Paramount, the network’s parent company, for its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump.
Trump sued CBS’ 60 Minutes, alleging the program deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. The lawsuit was filed as Paramount was pursuing a merger with entertainment company Skydance — a deal that required approval from the Trump administration. A week after Colbert's show was canceled, the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger and it was made official in August 2025, according to the .
In a statement, CBS executive said the decision to cancel Colbert's show wasn't "related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount." Instead, it was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."
“It's possible that two things can be true," Colbert told The New York Timesin April 2026. "Broadcast can be in trouble. ... I do not have any desire to debate them over what they say their business model is and how it does not work for them anymore. But less than two years before they called to say it's over, they were very eager for me to be signed for a long time. So, something changed."
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Speaking to PEOPLE, the host recalled hearing the news of the cancellation from his manager. At the time, he was resting before his show taping that day. “I sat up and I said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m awake. Could you say that one more time?’ ” Colbert said.
During his cover interview, he reflected on the timing of the cancellation.
"I mean, you can't do this forever. You have to think about, well, when is the right time to end your tenure? I didn't think this soon, but I mean, who knows?" he told PEOPLE. "Maybe CBS saved my life because it takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day, and now I'll be stepping down with enough time, enough energy to do other things that I want to do."
What is Stephen Colbert doing after his late night show ends?
Stephen Colbert hosting 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'
Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
The day after Colbert signs off the air, he'll be focused on family.
"I'm going to my brother's wedding in Washington D.C.," he said. "My [eight] brothers and sisters and [their] husbands and wives are coming to the last show, and then we're all getting on the train the next day and going down to D.C. to go to Tommy's wedding."
Colbert also has another family milestone to celebrate: his son John graduated from college earlier this week. "I'm glad a lot of the week is not about me, [it's about] people I love more than I love me — and I'm a big fan of me."
Afterward, he will work on his ongoing Lord of the Rings project that he's writing with his son Peter.
"This has been years I've been thinking about it," he said. "I've been working on it with my son since COVID actually, and then working on it with Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh for almost two years now. So that wasn't a post-show idea."
Any other plans remain up in the air. He has just been focused on ending the show on a high note. "We’ll land this plane and we’ll check out the view from there," he said of finishing the longtime program.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
