The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster

Next Season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Is Season 12 Renewed, and When Will It Be Released?

Renewal probability

0%
Ended0%high confidence

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has conclusively ended its run on CBS. The show's time slot is already being handed over to Byron Allen's programming as of May 2026, confirming the series finale aired on May 6, 2026 after 11 seasons and over 1,800 episodes.

Updated 2026-05-15 · AI-generated analysis

Network
CBS
Seasons aired
11
Total episodes
1808
Genres
Comedy, Talk
First aired
2015-09-08
Last aired
2026-05-06
Runtime
TMDB rating
6.1 / 10 · 348 votes

All available signals point unambiguously to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert having permanently ended its run. The Variety report from May 14, 2026 explicitly describes CBS vacating the time slot "this month" — directly following the May 6, 2026 finale — and handing it over to Byron Allen's programming. This is not a hiatus, a mid-season break, or an unresolved cancellation; the real estate of the time slot itself is already being reassigned, which is the clearest possible indicator of a series end.

The show enjoyed a remarkably long and commercially successful run under Colbert. Launching in 2015, it consistently competed at the top of the late-night ratings, frequently surpassing NBC's Tonight Show. With 11 seasons and 1,808 episodes, it represents one of the most prolific late-night tenures in the post-Letterman era at CBS. The end of the show appears to reflect a broader structural shift away from the traditional broadcast late-night format — a trend accelerating across all major networks — rather than any failure on the show's part. There is no credible signal of a revival, a network switch, or a streaming continuation at this time.

What is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert about?

Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.

Is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert renewed or cancelled?

high
CBS time slot officially reassigned to Byron Allen's programming immediately after series finale
high
Series finale confirmed aired May 6, 2026 — no future episodes scheduled
medium
Broader industry-wide decline of traditional broadcast late-night format accelerating
medium
11 seasons and 1,808 episodes represent a natural, complete run rather than a premature cancellation
low
TMDB still lists as 'Returning Series' — a data lag that does not reflect reality on the ground

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 12 Release Date

There will be no further seasons of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The time slot has been reassigned to Byron Allen's company, and the series finale has already aired. Any future Colbert television project would constitute an entirely new show rather than a renewal of this one. No such project has been announced as of the available reporting.

Where to watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cast

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert

Self - Host

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert trailer

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert seasons

  • Season 12015 · 202 ep
  • Season 22016 · 206 ep
  • Season 32017 · 194 ep
  • Season 42018 · 195 ep
  • Season 52019 · 173 ep
  • Season 62020 · 168 ep
  • Season 72021 · 170 ep
  • Season 82022 · 107 ep
  • Season 92023 · 129 ep
  • Season 102024 · 153 ep
  • Season 112025 · 114 ep

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Frequently asked

Is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert renewed or cancelled?
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has conclusively ended its run on CBS. The show's time slot is already being handed over to Byron Allen's programming as of May 2026, confirming the series finale aired on May 6, 2026 after 11 seasons and over 1,800 episodes.
When will The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 12 be released?
There will be no further seasons of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The time slot has been reassigned to Byron Allen's company, and the series finale has already aired. Any future Colbert television project would constitute an entirely new show rather than a renewal of this one. No such project has been announced as of the available reporting.
How many seasons of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are there?
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has aired 11 seasons so far.