When is the final episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'? Here's everything to know
Los Angeles, May 13
After more than a decade on air, 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is preparing to sign off.
According to PEOPLE magazine, Stephen Colbert's popular late-night show will conclude its successful 11-season run with a final episode airing on May 21.
Colbert had announced nearly 10 months ago that the show would be wrapping up, and with May now underway, the countdown to the final episode has officially begun.
While Colbert has not shared details about his next television project, he recently revealed in March 2026 that he is working on a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie. The host shared that he is co-writing the script with his son and Philippa Boyens, who worked on the original 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
Speaking about the project in a social media video, Colbert said, "I'm pretty happy about it."
The guest list for the final episode has not been announced yet, though several big names are set to appear on the show in the days leading up to the finale.
According to PEOPLE magazine, late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver will appear together on May 11. Actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal are also scheduled to join the show, followed by Tom Hanks and David Letterman later in the week.
Meanwhile, 'Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen' will take over the time slot from May 22.
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert reacted to Byron Allen taking over the slot and said, "God bless him." Colbert also shared that he personally congratulated Allen after hearing the news. "I know Byron. We got to know each other last year, actually. He's fascinating. You know his history with Carson?"
'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' first premiered in 2015 and became one of the most watched late-night talk shows in the United States.
— ANI
Reader Comments
11 seasons is a good run. I remember when he took over from Letterman - big shoes to fill, but he made it his own. The finale lineup with Fallon, Kimmel, Meyers and Oliver sounds epic! Will miss his monologues.
I used to watch clips of his show on YouTube all the time. His segment "Meanwhile..." was hilarious. But honestly, late-night talk shows feel a bit outdated now with all the streaming content. Maybe it's time for something fresh.
Wow, a Lord of the Rings movie co-written with his son? That's either going to be amazing or a complete disaster. No middle ground with LOTR fans. 😂 Still, good for him for trying something new after the show.
Not many people know this, but Colbert once said in an interview that he watches Bollywood movies sometimes. That's when I started following his show. He was always respectful of different cultures. The late-night landscape won't be the same without him.
I'm actually surprised it lasted this long given the ratings decline in late-night TV. But Colbert was smart - he adapted with digital content and his YouTube channel. The Byron Allen show taking over sounds like a big shift though. Curious to see how it works out.
R Rohit P