It’s always sad to get to the end of a season of our favorite shows. Real Time with Bill Maher has just done that, airing its 23rd season finale on Friday, Nov. 21.
This often leads to question marks about the future of the shows, especially when it comes to the late night TV slate right now. We know that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end in 2026, and there have been issues with Jimmy Kimmel Live throughout 2025, so there are certainly valid concerns about the future of this part of TV.
The good news is that we have no reason to worry about Real Time. At least, not just yet!
Real Time with Bill Maher will be back in 2026
When HBO originally renewed Bill Maher’s show in 2024, it came with the great news that it would be renewed for two more seasons. We’ve had one of those seasons, and there is still another one to come. Real Time with Bill Maher season 24 will premiere sometime in 2026.
As of right now, there isn’t a premiere date. It’s likely that it will be in early 2026, though, especially if it’s to follow suit of the previous seasons. The 23rd season premiered on Jan. 17, 2025, and it ran through until almost the end of the year.
So, it’s likely that we will see something similar, with HBO setting the date sometime in January. We didn’t get to know the season 23 date until much closer to its premiere date, so we’ll keep an eye on season 24.
Don’t expect many breaks in Real Time with Bill Maher season 24
This is one of those shows that doesn’t take a lot of breaks in the season. There is often a midseason break around July, but HBO tries to remain consistent with the talk show, which is arguably why it’s popular. There were 34 episodes to the 23rd season, and we could see something similar with season 24.
The benefit of the talk show is that there’s a variety to it. It relies on celebrities wanting to promote something, or on guests who have something interesting to talk with Bill Maher about when it comes to current events. Then there are the monologues, just like with other late night shows.
You can catch up on all 23 seasons of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO Max, and we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for season 24 news. At least we know there will be more episodes in 2026.