When Is Kat Coming Back to Gutfeld: Why She’s Away and Her 2026 Return Date

If you’ve tuned into Gutfeld! lately and felt like something was missing—specifically the sharp-witted, libertarian perspective and the signature glasses—you aren't alone. Kat Timpf has been noticeably absent from the panel recently, and it’s left a lot of regular viewers asking the same thing: when is Kat coming back to Gutfeld?

The short answer is: late February or early March 2026.

On a January 2026 episode of the show, Kat officially announced she would be taking a six-week hiatus. While she's been a staple on the Fox News late-night hit since it was The Greg Gutfeld Show, this break is about much more than just a vacation. It’s the culmination of an incredibly intense year that saw her battle a major health crisis while navigating new motherhood.

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The Real Reason Behind the Absence

Honestly, Kat’s life over the last twelve months has been a bit of a whirlwind. To understand why she’s taking this six-week break now, you have to look back at the "unconventional birth announcement" she shared in February 2025.

Most people get to celebrate their child’s birth with nothing but joy. For Kat, things were... complicated. Just fifteen hours before she went into labor with her son, she was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer.

Think about that for a second. You're waddling into a hospital to bring a new life into the world, and simultaneously, you’re trying to wrap your head around a cancer diagnosis. She actually joked about wanting to put her tumor ultrasound on the fridge next to her baby's ultrasound. Typical Kat.

Since then, she has been through:

• The birth of her first son in February 2025.
• A double mastectomy in March 2025.
• A "triumphant return" to the show in June 2025 after her initial recovery.
• Ongoing reconstructive surgeries and treatments throughout the latter half of the year.

When Is Kat Coming Back to Gutfeld?

After working through most of 2025 while recovering from a major surgery, Kat decided in early January 2026 that it was time to prioritize her family and her own health. She's taking six weeks off to spend quality time with her husband, Cameron Friscia, and their young son.

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If we do the math based on her January announcement, her seat at the desk should be filled again by the end of February.

In fact, we already have a pretty solid clue about her return to the public eye. Official tour announcements for GUTFELD Live 2026 list Kat Timpf as a "surprise guest" for shows starting on February 28 and March 1, 2026. She is scheduled to join Greg and Tom Shillue at the Westbury Music Fair in New York and the Chevalier Theatre in Massachusetts.

It’s highly likely she will be back on the nightly broadcast just before or immediately following those live dates.

Handling the Haters

It hasn't all been well-wishes and flowers, though. Kat has been remarkably open about the "vitriol" she’s faced from a certain subset of viewers. While she was away for her mastectomy, some trolls online actually told her she should "stay home and be a mother" or suggested she try alternative treatments like ivermectin instead of surgery.

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She hasn't let it slow her down. In a recent interview with the New York Times, she mentioned that she has a "team of haters" who seem mad that she even exists. But her decision to be open about her double mastectomy and the reality of not being able to breastfeed (because, as she bluntly put it, she "cut her tits off") has helped a lot of other women going through similar battles.

What to Expect Upon Her Return

When Kat returns to the Gutfeld! panel later this spring, expect her to be back in top form. She’s already been joking about her "boob-free and cancer-free" status, and her comedic timing hasn't lost a step.

Beyond the nightly show, 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for her. She’s still promoting her second book, I Used to Like You Until..., and her 2026 tour schedule is picking up steam.

Actionable Takeaways for Fans:

• Watch for the Live Tour: If you can't wait for her nightly TV appearances, she will definitely be on stage for the Gutfeld Live shows starting February 28, 2026.
• Follow Socials for Updates: Kat is notoriously active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. She often posts "post-op" updates and glimpses of her life with her son and their dog, Carl.
• Check the Lineup: Fox News usually announces the night's guest list a few hours before the 10 p.m. ET broadcast. Keep an eye out starting the last week of February.

The "fastest hour in cable" definitely feels a little slower without her, but the good news is the countdown to her return has already begun.