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The era of late-night television has come to an end.
After a week of special farewell episodes, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” officially comes to an end with tonight’s series finale.
“It takes a lot of bone marrow to do a show every day, and I’m going to step down now with enough time and energy to do other things I want to do,” Colbert recently told People magazine, adding that canceling the show may have “saved[his]life.”
Below you’ll find everything you need to know to watch the final episode for free.
When is the last episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”?
The final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will air on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:35 PM ET/PT on CBS.
How to watch the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
A live TV streaming service is required to watch the show. One of our favorite options is DirecTV. It offers a 5-day free trial and has several packages that include CBS.
The show will also be streamed live on Paramount+ for premium subscribers (ad-supported subscribers will be able to watch it on-demand the next day).
Who will be the guest on the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”?
Everyone from Martha Stewart to Aubrey Plaza has appeared on last week’s show so far, but it has yet to be announced who will appear in the finale. Colbert teased “something simple” in an interview with People magazine.
He announced the cancellation of the long-running series after nearly 33 years in July 2025, telling viewers, “I’m not being replaced. Everything is just gone.”
“For the last 10 years, I’ve felt the joy and responsibility of being in front of this camera and sharing what we do every day. Let me tell you, it’s an amazing job,” he exclaimed on air. “I wish someone else had gotten it.”
CBS insisted to Variety at the time that canceling the series was a “purely financial decision.”
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This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Associate Editor at Page Six. Hanna covers actually affordable styles worn by celebrities, testing celebrity brands and finding beauty products that keep stars red carpet ready. She seeks direct advice from stylists and industry experts (including celebrities themselves) for product recommendations, trend predictions, and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has also been featured in USA Today and Parade.
