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In July 2025, CBS announced that it would be canceling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert at the end of the 2026 season. And after weeks of fond goodbyes from celebrity guests, including Barack Obama, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal, David Letterman and others, the final episode of the late-nite talk show airs on Thursday, May 21.
Want to watch the final episode? Keep reading below for more details on how to watch online.
At a Glance: Watch The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Online
Who Are the Final Guests on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert?
Filmed at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York since 1993, the guest for the final episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has yet to be announced since the host wants to keep it a surprise. However, the network is calling it an “extended” episode, which means the late-nite TV show would run longer than its typical hour-long format.
How to Watch The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Without Cable
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert broadcasts on CBS on Thursday, May 21, with a start time of 11:35 p.m. PT/ET.
The final episode is also streamable on Paramount+. Meanwhile, it’s available to stream on live channel services that carries CBS, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV.
Look below to find out where to watch online without and with a cable subscription, including ways to stream for free.
Editor’s Choice
DirecTV
The best TV streaming experience
Watch The Late Show With Stephen Colbert with DirecTV. The cable alternative’s “Entertainment” package offers CBS, while it includes more than 90 channels, such as NBC, ABC, FOX, ESPN, TNT and others. The streamer has a free five-day trial available. You can cancel or keep it after the free trial is over, with the signature package price going for $59.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterwards).
Best For CBS
Paramount+
Paramount+ Essential for $8.99 per month (ad-supported); Paramount+ Premium for $12.99 per month (ad-free)
Stream The Late Show With Stephen Colbert as it airs with Paramount+ Premium at $13.99 per month. Afterwards, you can cancel the streaming service altogether, or you can keep watching. However, if you want to catch it the following day, go with Paramount+ Essential for $8.99 per month instead. Aside from the late-nite TV show, subscribers can access hundreds of movies and TV series with Paramount+, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, Special Ops: Lioness and much more.
Best Value
Fubo
200+ channels
Watch CBS for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, along with more than 200 other news, entertainment and sports channels with a Fubo subscription starting at $48.99 for the first month ($73.99 per month afterward). The online TV streaming service offers a five-day trial for new subscribers.
best streaming bundle
Hulu + Live TV
Bundled with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited
You can watch The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS with a Hulu + Live TV subscription. The streaming service has access to more than 95 live channels, like BET, CNN, ESPN, FOX Sports, Food Network and others, starting at $89.99 per month. It comes with Hulu’s entire streaming library, as well as Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. Right now, Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial to try out the service before you commit for the month.
How to Watch The Late Show With Stephen Colbert With Cable
The final episode broadcasts on CBS. You can watch through your cable TV provider, on CBS.com, or with the CBS mobile app, including streaming and traditional services, including DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon, Xfinity and others.
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