So, you’re looking for Stephen Colbert. Maybe you’re settling in after a long day, or maybe you just need that specific brand of sharp, slightly chaotic political satire to make sense of the world before you drift off. Honestly, it's become a nightly ritual for millions. But if you've been clicking around your remote lately and feeling a bit turned around, you aren't alone. Between the 2026 scheduling shifts and the news about the show's future, the answer to "what time is Stephen Colbert show" is straightforward, yet weirdly heavy this year.
Right now, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs at 11:35 PM ET/PT on CBS.
If you’re in the Central or Mountain time zones, you’re looking at 10:35 PM CT. It’s the same slot he’s held since taking over for David Letterman back in 2015. But there’s a massive catch this time around. This isn't just another season. We are currently in the home stretch of the final season of The Late Show as we know it.
The Clock is Ticking: Why the Schedule Matters in 2026
You might have heard the rumblings back in July of 2025. CBS made the shocking announcement that they are ending the "Late Show" franchise entirely in May 2026. This isn't just Colbert moving on; the network is actually giving the time slot back to local affiliates. It’s the end of a 33-year legacy that started with Letterman’s jump from NBC.
Because we’re in this "farewell" window, the schedule has become a bit of a moving target. While the standard 11:35 PM slot holds for new episodes, the frequency of those episodes is something you have to keep an eye on. Usually, Colbert tapes four nights a week—Monday through Thursday—with a "look back" or rerun on Friday.
However, since we’re in the final months, the show has been leaning into special events and "best of" retrospectives. If you tune in on a Friday, don't expect a live monologue about that afternoon's headlines. You’re more likely to see a "Colbert Questionert" compilation or a repeat of a high-profile interview from earlier in the week.
Where to Watch if You Miss the 11:35 PM Slot
Let’s be real: staying up until 12:37 AM on a Tuesday is a tall order if you have a 9-to-5. If you can’t catch the broadcast live, you have options, but they depend on how much you’re willing to pay and how fast you want the content.
- Paramount+ (Live): If you have the "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" plan, you can actually stream your local CBS station live. This means you can watch Colbert at 11:35 PM on your laptop or phone without needing a cable box.
- Paramount+ (On-Demand): For those with the Essential plan, the episode usually drops the next morning. It’s great for the morning commute, assuming you can avoid spoilers on social media for eight hours.
- YouTube: This is the "Goldilocks" zone for most people. The Late Show’s YouTube channel is incredibly efficient. They usually start uploading the monologue and the "Meanwhile" segments shortly after they air on the East Coast. By 3:00 AM ET, most of the show is available in bite-sized clips.
Is the Time Changing for the Finale?
As we get closer to that May 2026 cutoff, there are rumors about "event" episodes. Historically, when a late-night giant signs off—think Johnny Carson or Letterman himself—the final episodes sometimes get extended runtimes or special prime-time lead-ins.
While CBS hasn't officially moved the 11:35 PM start time for the final week yet, industry insiders are betting on at least one 90-minute special. For now, stay glued to the 11:35 PM slot. If there’s a massive breaking news event or a sports overrun (looking at you, March Madness), the show might push back to 12:00 AM or later. That’s the "late-night tax" we all have to pay occasionally.
The Impact of the Skydance/Paramount Merger
You might wonder why the show is ending if it's still pulling in top ratings. It basically comes down to math. The media landscape has shifted so violently toward streaming that the old "linear" model of late-night TV—expensive sets, huge bands, 200-person crews—doesn't make as much sense to the accountants at the new Paramount-Skydance entity.
They’ve called the decision "purely financial." It’s a bummer, but it explains why the show feels a bit different lately. There's a "last day of school" energy in the Ed Sullivan Theater. Colbert has been more vocal than ever, even cracking jokes about his own employer's merger and the settlement deals involving the former president. It's raw, it's funny, and it makes that 11:35 PM appointment feel even more essential.
How to Stay Updated on Daily Guests
Knowing "what time is Stephen Colbert show" is only half the battle; you also want to know if the guest is worth the sleep deprivation. The show is currently pulling out all the stops for its final months. We’ve seen everyone from Paul Giamatti to Jodie Foster and even musical legends like Yo-Yo Ma recently.
The best way to track the daily lineup is the Paramount Press Express or the show's official Twitter (X) and Instagram accounts. They usually post the night's lineup by mid-afternoon. If you see a name like Jon Stewart or a former "Daily Show" alum on the list, that’s usually a sign the episode will be one for the books.
A Note on Regional Variations
Television is weird. If you're in a market where the local news runs long, or if there's a local sports broadcast, CBS might delay the show by 15 to 30 minutes. This is especially common in the late spring during playoff seasons.
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Also, for the international fans: if you're in Canada, Global TV usually carries the show in sync with the US broadcast. In the UK and other regions, the "Late Show" often moves to secondary channels or strictly streaming platforms with a 24-hour delay. Always check your local listings if you aren't in the States, because the "11:35" rule only applies to the US CBS affiliates.
What Happens After May 2026?
This is the question everyone is asking. Once the show ends in May, that 11:35 PM slot on CBS won't have a "Late Show" anymore. The network is essentially retiring the brand. Colbert himself hasn't fully detailed his next move, though he's hinted at staying in the "storytelling" business.
Whether he moves to a weekly show on a streamer or starts a massive podcast empire (like the Strike Force Five guys hinted at during the writers' strike), the era of nightly network satire is drawing to a close. Catch it while you can.
Your Action Plan for Watching Colbert:
- Check the Date: Ensure it's a Monday–Thursday for a "new" episode.
- Sync the Clock: Set your DVR or alarm for 11:35 PM ET/PT (10:35 PM CT).
- Use the App: Download the CBS or Paramount+ app for notifications if the show is delayed by sports.
- Follow the Clips: If you value sleep, subscribe to the YouTube channel to catch the monologue first thing in the morning.
The countdown to May is on. Every episode now is essentially a piece of television history as we watch one of the last titans of late-night pack up his desk.