Stephen Colbert Ends 11 Year ‘Late Show’ Run With Celebration Instead of Politics

Last year, the comedian announced that CBS would be canceling the longtime program, citing financial pressure.

People hold signs supporting Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater ahead of the taping of the final episode of the "The Late Show" after 32 years on air, in New York, on May 21, 2026. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Stephen Colbert bids farewell to more than a decade behind the desk at “The Late Show,” with a celebratory episode and star-studded lineup that stayed away from political commentary.

The 62-year-old delivered his final monologue from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on May 21, marking the end of an 11-year run on the “Late Show” franchise that began with David Letterman in 1993.