Is The Late Show With Stephen Colbert On Break? The Definitive December 2025 Schedule Guide

The question of whether *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* is on break is a perennial one for fans, especially as the holiday season approaches. As of today, Friday, December 12, 2025, the show is on its standard weekend hiatus, but it has not yet started its major Christmas and New Year's holiday break, with new episodes confirmed for the start of the following week. This period marks a final, crucial run of new broadcasts before the show takes its annual winter pause.

The current schedule is particularly significant as it falls within the final broadcast season for the long-running CBS late-night program. Fans eager for new content from Stephen Colbert and his team should note the precise dates for the upcoming original broadcasts and the expected return date in the new year. The late-night landscape is always shifting, but the *Late Show* is maintaining its M-Th new episode schedule deep into December.

The Late Show's Current Status: New Episodes Confirmed Before Holiday Hiatus

For viewers asking "Is *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* on break right now?" the short answer is a nuanced "Yes, but only for the weekend." The program typically airs new, live-to-tape episodes from Monday through Thursday. Therefore, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the show is always on a brief hiatus, airing reruns or "encore presentations" to fill the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT time slot.

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More importantly, the show is scheduled to return with a fresh batch of episodes before its major winter break. The weekly schedule confirms that the *Late Show* will be airing new episodes in the week of December 15, 2025.

• Friday, December 12, 2025: Rerun/Encore Presentation (Standard Weekend Break)
• Monday, December 15, 2025: NEW EPISODE (Season 11, Episode 50)
• Tuesday, December 16, 2025: NEW EPISODE (Expected)
• Wednesday, December 17, 2025: NEW EPISODE (Expected)
• Thursday, December 18, 2025: NEW EPISODE (Likely the final new episode of 2025)

This late-season push of new episodes is a treat for fans, especially those who enjoy the show's topical monologues and political satire, which are essential to the *Late Show*'s success. The team often uses these final weeks to deliver special holiday-themed content, such as the recent "Holiday 'First Drafts'" segment featuring Evie McGee Colbert.

Why Do Late-Night Shows Take So Many Breaks?

The frequent breaks, or hiatuses, taken by late-night talk shows like *The Late Show*, *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, and *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* are a standard part of the television production model. They are necessary for several key reasons:

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1. The Demands of the Production Schedule

Unlike scripted dramas or sitcoms, late-night shows are produced on a near-daily basis—four new episodes per week, 40+ weeks a year. This relentless pace requires regular downtime for the entire staff, including the writers, producers, crew, and, most importantly, the host, Stephen Colbert. These breaks are crucial for preventing burnout and maintaining the high quality of the comedy and interviews.

2. Seasonal and Holiday Scheduling

The biggest and most predictable breaks occur during major holidays. The *Late Show* typically takes extended time off for the summer, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas/New Year period. The Colbert holiday break 2025 is expected to be a substantial one, running from late December through early January.

The time between Christmas and New Year's Day is historically one of the lowest-rated periods for television, as audiences are traveling or focused on family. Networks prefer to air cost-effective Late Show reruns during this time rather than spending the money to produce new content.

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3. The Late Show's Future: The Countdown to the Finale

The current schedule is imbued with a sense of finality, adding a layer of urgency for fans to tune into every new episode. In a major news development, CBS announced that *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* will officially conclude its run in May 2026, at the end of the 2025-2026 broadcast season.

The news of the show’s cancellation, which came after a decade-long run, has made every new episode a part of the final season's legacy. This context elevates the importance of the current Stephen Colbert new episodes and the upcoming holiday hiatus, as the show's total number of remaining broadcasts is now finite.

The decision to end the show has been cited with various reasons, including financial and creative considerations, as the late-night television landscape continues to evolve. For viewers, this means every episode, including the ones airing in mid-December, is a piece of television history.

When Does The Late Show Return With New Episodes in 2026?

The most pressing question for fans once the holiday break begins is, "When does The Late Show return?" While the official, confirmed date for the start of the 2026 winter run is usually announced closer to the end of December, the historical pattern of the CBS late-night schedule gives a strong indication.

Late-night shows typically return to new episodes on the first Monday or Tuesday following the New Year’s holiday. Based on this historical trend, the most likely return date for *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* will be in the first full week of January 2026. Industry analysis suggests a likely return date around Tuesday, January 6, 2026, allowing the show to avoid the New Year's Day holiday and the typical low-viewership weekend that follows.

During the extended late-night talk show hiatus, the 11:35 p.m. time slot will be filled with a selection of classic *Late Show* reruns. These encore presentations are a great way for viewers to catch up on favorite interviews, musical performances, and classic comedy segments they may have missed throughout the year.

Key Takeaways for The Late Show Schedule

To summarize the current status and future outlook for the *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* schedule:

• Current Status (Dec 12): On standard weekend break.
• New Episodes Alert: New episodes are scheduled to air starting Monday, December 15, 2025.
• Anticipated Hiatus Start: The major holiday break is expected to begin after the last new episode of the week of December 15 (likely December 18 or 19).
• Expected Return Date: The show is anticipated to return with new episodes in early January 2026, likely around January 6.
• The Final Season: All upcoming episodes are part of the show's final season, with the series finale scheduled for May 2026.

For the most accurate and up-to-the-minute information on guests and any unexpected schedule changes, fans should always check the official CBS or *The Late Show* social media accounts. In the meantime, enjoy the final run of new Stephen Colbert new episodes before the curtain closes on 2025 and the final countdown to the The Late Show cancellation 2026 begins.