The Late Show with Stephen Colbert collected six Emmy Awards across the first night of the 2026 Creative Arts ceremonies, months after CBS brought the programme to an end.
The CBS programme won five awards for its final run, including outstanding writing for a variety series, lighting design, technical direction and camerawork, picture editing for a variety programme segment, and directing for a variety series.
Yvonne De Mare received the directing award for the show’s series finale, which was broadcast on May 21, 2026. The episode marked the end of Colbert’s 11-year tenure behind the desk and the retirement of the wider Late Show franchise.
The programme’s digital spin-off, Colbert Before Air, added a sixth victory after being named outstanding short-form comedy, drama or variety series.
The awards were presented at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 5, during the first of two Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies. The second ceremony is due to take place on Sunday, with the main Primetime Emmy Awards scheduled for September 14.
The haul comes after CBS announced in July 2025 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end at the close of the 2025-26 broadcast season. The network described the decision as “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night” and said it was unrelated to the programme’s performance or content.
Despite the cancellation, the show remains in contention for the outstanding variety series prize at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
