how to – Stephen Colbert is ending his CBS late-night run after more than a decade, with the final episode set for May 21, 2026. The show can still be watched without cable via CBS live-streaming options and Paramount+, and Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will move into
Stephen Colbert’s goodbye arrives with a calendar date: May 21, 2026.
After more than a decade behind CBS’s late-night desk, Colbert is officially saying farewell to The Late Show. CBS says the move was “purely a financial decision,” citing the changing economics of late-night television. But the announcement landed in the middle of controversy—Colbert had publicly criticized Paramount and Donald Trump in the months leading up to the end.
The final episode airs live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on May 21, 2026, giving viewers one last chance to catch Colbert before the franchise shifts gears. CBS has already confirmed that Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take over the 11:35 p.m. time slot beginning May 22, marking the end of The Late Show franchise altogether.
Allen has said his version of late night will avoid politics entirely, focusing instead on comedy and stand-up discussions. For fans trying to hold onto the show’s weekly rhythm during farewell week, the good news is that you don’t need cable to watch.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs on CBS. Colbert took over the iconic late-night franchise in 2015 following David Letterman’s retirement, and the show has stayed a fixture of CBS’s nighttime lineup since.
Fans without cable can stream The Late Show through live TV platforms that carry CBS, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream. Recent broadcasts are also available on Paramount+, where viewers can watch online.
Yes, the finale can be streamed live without cable, too. Colbert’s last episode is set for May 21, 2026, and viewers can stream it live through Paramount+ Premium or any live TV streaming service that includes CBS in its channel lineup.
After the series ends, viewers won’t be left completely empty-handed. Episodes and clips from The Late Show With Stephen Colbert are expected to remain available on Paramount+ and CBS digital platforms. Segments from the show will also continue to live on through The Late Show’s official YouTube channel. even after Allen’s Comics Unleashed replaces the program in CBS’s late-night lineup.
Stephen Colbert The Late Show CBS Byron Allen Comics Unleashed Paramount+ YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV Fubo DirecTV Stream May 21 2026 May 22 2026