List of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert episodes (2026)

Grandparent Nickname Database. Endea Owens' Flushable Towels. Louis Cato's Speed Taco Truck. Ethan Hawke discusses Blue Moon. Julia Ioffe discusses recent politics and her new book, Motherland.

Pardon City. Late Show Presents: The Sound of Science. Jodie Foster discusses A Private Life. Tracy Letts discusses Bug.

Stephen acknowledges the killing of Renée Good. Chris Hayes discusses recent politics and his new book, The Sirens' Call. Natalie Portman takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from May 21, 2025 episode). Robyn performs "Sexistential" from her new album of the same name.

Gros. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Tom Hiddleston discusses The Night Manager. Terry Gross discusses Fresh Air.

Lego Trophy Set. Monkey 'Mergency. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Jimmy Kimmel takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from September 30, 2025 episode). Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger discusses recent politics.

Monkey 'Mergency Update. Community Calendar: Allentown, Pennsylvania with Amanda Seyfried. Amanda Seyfried discusses The Testament of Ann Lee. Yo-Yo Ma discusses his new podcast, Our Common Nature. Yo-Yo Ma performs a medley of the prelude from Bach's first Cello Suite and "Over the Rainbow".

Trump-Tosterone. Paul Giamatti discusses Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Ryan Coogler discusses Sinners.

Warren Haynes sits in with the band and provides musical accompaniment. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Stellan Skarsgård discusses Sentimental Value. Jon Meacham discusses his new book, American Struggle.

CSI: Ooh La La. Senator Bernie Sanders discusses recent politics. Lucinda Williams performs "The World's Gone Wrong" from her new album, World's Gone Wrong, featuring Brittney Spencer.

Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Jane Fonda discusses the Committee for the First Amendment. Jessica Williams discusses Shrinking.

Chance the Rapper discusses the 10th anniversary of Coloring Book and his new album, Star Line. Maria J. Stephan discusses recent politics. Chance the Rapper performs "The Negro Problem".

Stephen acknowledges the killing of Alex Pretti. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Governor Josh Shapiro discusses recent politics and his new book, Where We Keep the Light. The War and Treaty performs "I'm Still Standing", featuring Willie Blount.

Sam Rockwell discusses his career and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. George Saunders discusses his new book, Vigil.

Claus & Order: Santa Victims Unit. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Bad Bunny takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from July 22, 2025 episode). Katherine LaNasa discusses The Pitt.

A musical tribute to the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: "#1 Trilly" (special appearances by Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Anna Kendrick, Method Man, Killer Mike, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving; segment rebroadcast from December 15, 2021 episode). Alexander Skarsgård discusses Pillion. Jacob Soboroff discusses recent politics and his new book, Firestorm.

The Trump–Epstein Files. Late Show Home Shopping: Canceled Clearance Sale! Bye Bye Buy (with John Oliver)! John Oliver discusses Last Week Tonight.

Mark Ruffalo discusses Crime 101. Father James Martin discusses his new book, Work in Progress.

A cameo appearance by Laura Benanti as Melania Trump. Ian McKellen discusses his career and An Ark. I'm with Her performs "The Obvious Child" from their new album, Sing Me Alive.

First Drafts: Valentine's Day Cards, with Stephen's wife, Evie. James Taylor discusses his career as a singer-songwriter and performs "You Can Close Your Eyes", with his son Henry providing musical accompaniment.

Stephen addresses his controversial interview with James Talarico. Jennifer Garner discusses The Last Thing He Told Me. Stephen acknowledges the death of Robert Duvall (segment rebroadcast from June 24, 2021 episode).

Kaitlan Collins discusses The Source. Walter Isaacson discusses his new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.

Thundercat sits in with the band and provides musical accompaniment. Basilica Snack Bar. Stephen acknowledges the death of Jesse Jackson. Ooh Ooh! Ah! Ah! Update! Ooh Ooh! Awww. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Senator Jon Ossoff discusses recent politics. Kyle MacLachlan discusses Fallout and his new podcast, What Are We Even Doing?

Late Show Presents: The Sound of Science. Melissa McCarthy discusses the 10th anniversary of Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway. Michael Pollan discusses his new book, A World Appears.

Cory Wong sits in with the band and provides musical accompaniment. Late Show Home Shopping (special appearance by Senator Jeff Flake). Ray Romano discusses All Out: Comedy About Ambition. Emma Thompson takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from October 27, 2025 episode).

Special live episode following the State of the Union Address. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. John Dickerson discusses the State of the Union Address and recent politics. Mitski performs "I'll Change for You" from her album Nothing's About to Happen to Me.

Stephen Colbert Presents: Stephen Colbert's Segment About Youth Culture (I'm So Tired, Please Clap). Teyana Taylor discusses One Battle After Another. Bradley Whitford discusses For Worse.

Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Kurt & Wyatt Russell discuss Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. CMAT performs "When a Good Man Cries" from her album Euro-Country.

America at Whaaa? Brandee Younger sits in with the band and provides musical accompaniment. Brett McGurk discusses the 2026 Iran war. Daniel Radcliffe discusses Every Brilliant Thing. Maggie Gyllenhaal discusses The Bride!

A War with Iran. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Jake Gyllenhaal discusses The Bride! Maria Bamford discusses Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story.

Hormuz Nuz U Can Uz. Late Show Home Shopping: Canceled Clearance Sale! Bye Bye Buy (with Steve Carell)! Steve Carell discusses Rooster. Hozier and Lake Street Dive perform "With a Little Help from My Friends", with Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine providing musical accompaniment.

Rescue Dog Rescue with Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Fallon discusses The Tonight Show. Harvey Guillén discusses The Rocky Horror Show.

John Lithgow discusses the Broadway play Giant and serenades Stephen with a poem; Paul Rieckhoff promotes his Independent Americans podcast and critiques Congress' approach toward Donald Trump's use of the military.

Meanwhile; Michelle Pfeiffer discusses The Madison; Dave Matthews discusses the musicians who inspire him, and also performs "Peace on Earth", "Making It Great Again", and "Don't Drink the Water".

Clarissa Ward joins Stephen from Iraq to discuss the 2026 Iran war; Pete Holmes discusses his comedy special Silly Silly Fun Boy and his book for children, Spells to Cast on Your Parents.

Meanwhile; Wanda Sikes discusses Undercard; Robert Smigel promotes his new podcast and the Night of Too Many Stars event, while Triumph the Insult Comic Dog places a call to Stephen;^[1] Dan & Peggy Reeder perform "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness".

A cold-open ad for Lexus' "May to Neigh" sales event; Hormuz Nuz U Can Uz; Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez discuss the 15th anniversary of The Book of Mormon; Andrew Rannells recalls auditioning for Mormon, and performs the musical's "I Believe" with its Broadway company.

Meanwhile; Elija Wood discusses Ready or Not 2: Here I Come; David Alan Grier discusses St. Denis Medical; Lea Michele sings "Nobody's Side" from Chess with the backing of the musical's cast and orchestra.