Screenshot: CBS
After nearly a decade of live post–State of the Union broadcasts, Stephen Colbert is preparing to close out a signature Late Show tradition.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air its final live post–State of the Union episode on Tuesday February 24, 2026, following Donald Trump’s address to Congress. and the Democratic response.
Colbert announced the special episode on Wednesday night’s Late Show.
The broadcast will mark the show’s ninth live post-SOTU edition. Colbert has staged a live show after every State of the Union since taking over the franchise in 2015, with just two exceptions: 2016 and 2023.
The upcoming episode will also be the show’s 58th live broadcast overall. That total includes two live episodes that aired on Showtime on Election Night in 2016 and 2020, with the latter earning Colbert and his team an Emmy Award.
The show’s most recent live broadcast aired on March 4, 2025, following Donald Trump’s State of the Union–equivalent Presidential Address to Congress last year. The majority of The Late Show’s past live episodes have been tied to major political events, including presidential (and vice presidential) debates and party conventions.
No guests have yet been announced for this year’s post-SOTU episode. Past live editions have featured figures such as Pete Buttigieg, John Dickerson, and Bernie Sanders.