First on LateNighter: Stephen Colbert is headed back to late night—this time on the other side of the desk.
Colbert will appear as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday, Sept. 15, marking his first late-night guest appearance since The Late Show with Stephen Colbert signed off in May.
The appearance comes just one night after Colbert and Kimmel will both be in the running for Outstanding Variety Series at Monday night’s 78th Emmy Awards. Their respective shows are among the nominees in the newly revamped category, alongside The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Saturday Night Live.
Calling it a showdown between Colbert and Kimmel isn’t quite accurate, however. Unlike most Emmy races, Outstanding Variety Series is now an “area award,” meaning voters don’t choose a single winner. Each nominee is judged individually, and any show receiving “yes” votes from at least 90% of voters wins an Emmy. In other words, there’s a chance that both Colbert and Kimmel, and up to all five the late-night contenders could all share the prize.
The Emmys air Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
Colbert’s appearance on Kimmel will come nearly four months after he ended his 11-year run at CBS. The Late Show aired its series finale on May 21, bringing both Colbert’s tenure and the 33-year Late Show franchise to a close.
Kimmel was among the fellow late-night hosts who helped Colbert mark his final weeks on CBS, appearing alongside Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver on the May 11 Strike Force Five episode of The Late Show.
Tuesday night will mark Colbert’s sixth time visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a guest, following appearances in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2025.
UPDATE: Kimmel announced Colbert’s upcoming appearance on Thursday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! Pointing to his own chair, he quipped, “Maybe I’ll let him sit here, I don’t know.”
WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel announces Colbert's late-night return—as a guest on JKL Tuesday night. Pointing to his own chair, Kimmel quipped, "Maybe I'll let him sit here, I don't know." pic.twitter.com/RcTUBtIVJn
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) September 11, 2026
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Great news!
Very dull summer without him.
Not really. Stephen is not really receiving any big offers. Just “fun” ones.
🙄😒
How embarrassing. These Xers and Boomers just cant leave with dignity. They have more money than they will ever need and they cling to this dying notoriety.
That’s the best you can do on this September 11th? While most of us are remembering a tragedy, you can’t take a little bit of happy news without being a scumbag?
Not to mention that vile screen name you picked to elicit a reaction? Crawl off in a corner and die.
Low IQ types who expect hand outs d9 not understand nor care about anything other than their next freebie or grift.
Drumpf and the Republican filth know nothing, except how to fleece stupid people, like you, out of their money!
And you fucking blame Democrats for it!
No wonder Drumpf loves you poorly educated!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
People want to work…at least in our generation.
Grow up, already!