Stephen Colbert Heads to Jimmy Kimmel Live! for His First Late-Night Appearance Since The Late Show

Stephen Colbert is stepping back into late-night television, just not behind the desk. He’ll appear as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, September 15th, his first late-night appearance since he ended his run as host of The Late Show.

The timing makes it even better. The visit lands the night after the 2026 Emmys, where both Colbert and Kimmel are nominated for Outstanding Talk Series. Instead of treating the race like a showdown, the two hosts have spent the season promoting each other. Kimmel put up a billboard declaring he was“voting for Stephen,”and Colbert returned the gesture on Instagram, urging viewers to support Kimmel.

Kimmel kept the announcement light, saying,“Maybe I’ll let him sit here, I don’t know.”It’s a rare, friendly crossover between two competing hosts, and fans are already wondering whether it hints at what Colbert might do next. Either way, September 15th is circled on a lot of calendars.

Are you team Colbert or team Kimmel for that Emmy? Let us know in the comments.