What To Know
- Stephen Colbert will return to late-night television as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 15.
- It marks Colbert’s first late-night appearance since The Late Show signed off in May.
- Both Colbert and Kimmel are nominated for Outstanding Variety Series at the upcoming Emmy Awards.
Stephen Colbert is returning to late night for the first time since signing off from The Late Show in May, but this time, he’ll be the one sitting in the guest chair.
As confirmed on Thursday night (September 10), Colbert will appear as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! next Tuesday (September 15). Kimmel made the announcement at the end of Thursday’s show, saying, “We’ll be back in a big way on Tuesday night with the one and only Stephen Colbert, who’ll be making his return to late-night television.”
“Maybe I’ll let him sit here; I don’t know,” Kimmel added, pointing to his chair behind the desk.
WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel announces Colbert’s late-night return—as a guest on JKL Tuesday night. Pointing to his own chair, Kimmel quipped, “Maybe I’ll let him sit here, I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/RcTUBtIVJn
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) September 11, 2026
Last July, CBS cited financial reasons for canceling The Late Show, claiming the show loses $40 million annually. At the time, some critics argued the axing was politically motivated, with parent company Paramount hoping to appease President Donald Trump amid its merger with Skydance, which required government approval.
Colbert’s appearance on Kimmel comes just one night after the Emmy Awards, where both hosts are nominated for Outstanding Variety Series. They are up against The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Saturday Night Live.
In August, Colbert took to social media to encourage Emmy voters to throw their support behind Jimmy Kimmel Live! rather than his own Late Show. “I think we can all agree that Jimmy Kimmel deserves an Emmy,” he said. “I don’t care if you’ve never even seen his show; you know he deserves an Emmy.”
Colbert was returning the favor after Kimmel endorsed The Late Show for Outstanding Talk Series at the 2025 Emmys. Kimmel urged his viewers to support Colbert after CBS announced it was canceling The Late Show after 33 years. The ABC host even put up a billboard in West Hollywood of his own face, saying, “I’m voting for Stephen.”
The Late Show already swept up five awards at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction, Outstanding Picture Editing, and Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork.
Kimmel, meanwhile, took home the trophy for Outstanding Host For A Game Show for his work on ABC’s Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC