Stephen Colbert's Late Show Wins Final Emmy After CBS Cancellation

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ended its run the way few canceled shows ever do: as an Emmy winner. The CBS late-night series took home Outstanding Variety Series at the 2026 Emmys, capping a final season that came after the network pulled the plug. Colbert accepted to a standing ovation, thanked his crew, and joked that they’re“tech avail,”a nod to the fact that a whole team of talented people is now looking for work.

The win wasn’t a one-night fluke. The show had already collected five Creative Arts Emmys the weekend before, including honors for writing and directing. That’s the mark of a crew that never mailed it in, even with an expiration date hanging over the production. Colbert also worked in a warm word for the celebrities he’d interviewed over the years, telling them they were the perfect guests.

Now Colbert is heading back to late night, just on somebody else’s set. He’s scheduled to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 15, 2026. The two hosts spent the season supporting each other’s shows during a turbulent stretch for the genre, which included ABC briefly pulling Kimmel’s show off the air in fall 2025. Sometimes the best ending is just showing up for your friends. What’s the best sendoff you’ve ever seen for a favorite show?