A heartfelt and candid reflection on Stephen Colbert’s decade at *The Late Show*, the surprising decision to end it in 2026, and the unanswered questions about what comes next for one of late-night’s most beloved hosts.

When Stephen Colbert first set foot on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater in September 2015, he wasn’t just stepping into a new role—he was stepping out from behind a mask.

For nearly a decade on *The Colbert Report*, he had worn the armor of a pompous, satirical conservative persona. Now, he had to be himself.

“They’re calling me to host *The Late Show*… as me,” Colbert once recalled with a half-smile. “I wondered—can they love the real me as much as the character?”

The answer, over the next ten seasons, was a resounding yes. Colbert transformed *The Late Show* into a nightly ritual for millions, blending sharp political satire with moments of genuine vulnerability.

Whether delivering scathing monologues about the day’s headlines, sitting knee-to-knee with world leaders, or sharing quiet, personal conversations—like the one with Anderson Cooper on grief—he made the desk feel like both a stage and a confessional.

Colbert’s style was different from his predecessors. Letterman thrived on absurdity, Carson on effortless charm. Colbert brought heart. “I’m not just telling jokes; I’m talking to people,” he once told an audience during a Q\&A. “And sometimes… they talk back.”

The mix of wit and warmth propelled him to the top of the ratings, where he stayed for years, even as late-night television itself began to fragment in the streaming era.

Behind the scenes, the work was relentless. Writers remember him pacing backstage before a taping, murmuring lines to himself, occasionally scrapping an opening monologue minutes before showtime because “something bigger just happened.”

He lived for the energy of the live audience—the gasp before a punchline, the laughter that rolled back like a wave.

But on July 17, 2025, everything changed. Midway through a taping, Colbert stunned the audience with an announcement no one saw coming.

*The Late Show*, he said, would end in May 2026—and not just with a new host, but for good. “I’m not being replaced,” he explained.

“This is all just… going away.” The crowd reacted with a mix of cheers for his legacy and audible groans of disbelief. Some even shouted, “Why?”

Officially, CBS cited economic realities—declining ad revenues, shifting viewer habits, and the steep costs of producing nightly network television.

But Colbert’s own recent jabs at the network’s parent company had stirred speculation. Just weeks earlier, he had lambasted them over a controversial settlement with Donald Trump, calling it “a \$16 million thank-you note to the man who sued you.”

He didn’t elaborate further, but the timing of the cancellation left many wondering if creative freedom had come at a price.

Colbert, ever the professional, kept his focus on gratitude. “I’m extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here,” he told his audience, his voice thick with emotion.

“It is a fantastic job. It has been the honor of my life to come out here every night and try to make you laugh.” The applause that followed was long, warm, and tinged with sadness.

In a conversation later that month with comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, Colbert hinted at what might come next. “I’m going to need a gig soon,” he joked, leaning into the microphone. “Netflix, call me. I’m available in June.”

Rogers teased him about doing a podcast with his wife, Evie, prompting Colbert to laugh and say, “That could work—as long as she gets top billing.”

If the TODAY interview released this August proved anything, it’s that Colbert is a man both looking back and forward.

He spoke candidly about the early days of *The Late Show*, about learning to “fill the silence” without the shield of a character, and about the thrill of finding his real voice in front of millions.

“I thought the trick was pretending to be someone else,” he said. “Turns out, the trick was just being myself.”

As the countdown to May 2026 begins, fans are left with a bittersweet truth: late-night television will lose one of its most thoughtful voices.

But Colbert’s departure isn’t just the end of a program—it’s the closing of a chapter in cultural history. The man who could turn breaking news into comedy, and comedy into a kind of comfort, will soon take his final bow at 11:35 p.m.

And yet, watching him grin slyly when asked about the future, it’s hard to believe this is truly the end. “I’m not done making things,” he said. “I just don’t know what the next thing is yet. But I’ve got a feeling… it’s going to be fun.”

When the lights dim for the last time in the Ed Sullivan Theater, Stephen Colbert will leave behind more than a show.

He’ll leave a legacy of intelligence, empathy, and an unwavering belief in the power of laughter to get us through the night. The only question now is where he’ll take that magic next.