Is Stephen Colbert returning to host The Late Show in 2025?

Stephen Colbert has been MIA for select weeks of The Late Show in 2024. The host missed the week of April 22-26 and June 24-28. He also took two consecutive weeks off during July, which led many fans to question his availability.

Colbert has been the host of The Late Show since 2015, but his recent absences, coupled with the uncertain state of late night TV as an institution, has sparked bigger questions about his future. Is Colbert going to continue to host The Late Show, or will he decide to pass the mantle on to a successor in 2025?

Stephen Colbert's contract runs through 2026

Fans can rest easy, because Stephen Colbert is staying put. At least, for the time being. The late night host negotiated a contract extension with CBS in June 2023. The extension was made for three years according to Deadline, which means Colbert will remain on The Late Show through 2026.

CBS CEO George Cheeks was adamant about keeping Colbert around. He spoke at the Banff TV Festival shortly after the deal was struck, and told attendees that he was relieved. "We just extended him for three more years and I was praying for that to happen," Cheeks noted:

"It’s just a great cohesive group that is firing on all cylinders and Stephen’s really enjoying himself. [He's] absolutely crushing it."

Colbert has hosted The Late Show since 2015

Colbert was admittedly reluctant to take over The Late Show from David Letterman back in 2015. He told GQ that he was ultimately won over by the challenge and the ability to try different things with an audience. "The embracing of that, the discomfort of failing in front of an audience," he noted. "[Is what] leads you to penetrate through the fear that blinds you. Fear is the mind killer."

Colbert's extension will put him slightly behind Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon in terms of late night longevity. Meyers and Fallon both started their shows in 2014, and will remain hosts until 2028 at the least.