Stephen Colbert to return to late night as Kimmel’s guest next week

Stephen Colbert is heading back to late-night television — though not from behind his own desk.

Jimmy Kimmel announced on his ABC show Thursday that Mr. Colbert will appear as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday, marking his first late-night appearance since “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” aired its series finale in May.

“We will be back in a very big way on Tuesday night,” Mr. Kimmel told his studio audience, drawing cheers before gesturing toward the guest chair by his desk — and then toward his own. “Maybe I’ll let him sit here, I don’t know,” he joked.

The appearance comes one night after Mr. Colbert and Mr. Kimmel are both up for Outstanding Variety Series at the 78th Emmy Awards — a category retooled this year so any nominee clearing 90% approval from voters wins, meaning the two friends aren’t really competing against each other. Also nominated: “The Daily Show,” “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” and “Saturday Night Live.” Tuesday will mark Mr. Colbert’s sixth visit to Mr. Kimmel’s show, following prior appearances in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2017 and 2025.

The reunion caps a turbulent stretch for both hosts. CBS announced in July 2025 that it would end “The Late Show” the following May, calling the move a financial decision unrelated to the show’s content or performance. The cancellation came days after Mr. Colbert criticized parent company Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump over a “60 Minutes” editing dispute, and it drew scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers who questioned whether the decision was tied to Paramount’s then-pending merger with Skydance Media, which needed federal approval.

Mr. Kimmel weathered his own controversy two months later, when ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over his on-air remarks about reactions to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network reinstated the show less than a week later after a wave of industry and public pressure.

The two hosts, both members of the “Strike Force Five” podcast collective with Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver, have publicly backed each other through both episodes. Mr. Kimmel campaigned for Mr. Colbert’s Emmy win last year with a West Hollywood billboard, and Mr. Colbert returned the favor last month, urging Emmy voters to back Mr. Kimmel’s show in an Instagram video.

Mr. Colbert had said he intended to see out his remaining months on CBS on his own terms. “It is a fantastic job,” he told his audience after the cancellation news broke. “I wish somebody else was getting it.”