Stephen Colbert Gets a Standing Ovation as The Late Show Wins Big at the 2026 Emmys

Stephen Colbert received a standing ovation at the 2026 Emmy Awards as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert won Outstanding Variety Series — a particularly emotional victory coming just months after the program aired its final episode.

Colbert accepted the award on Monday, Sept. 14, alongside members of the show’s team at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The win came more than three months after The Late Show ended its 11-year run on May 21.

Colbert Celebrates the Team Behind The Late Show

Rather than focusing solely on his own achievement, Colbert used his acceptance speech to recognize the more than 200 people who worked on the program over its 11 years.

“Thank you so much on behalf of the over 200 people who threw themselves at this show for 11 years to try to do the best show they possibly could for you,” he said.

Colbert also reflected on the role late-night television can play in helping young professionals build careers. He described these shows as an “incubator” where people learn to work under deadlines while collaborating with a large team.

Then came some practical advice for anyone looking to hire his former colleagues.

“I want you to know I’ve got some great news. They’re all tech avail,” Colbert said. “Hire them: they will make your show better and your day easier.”

The Television Academy confirms that The Late Show was also recognized in several other categories in 2026, including Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series.

A Special Thank-You to His Wife

Colbert also took a more personal turn during his speech, acknowledging the many actors and other industry figures he had interviewed throughout his career.

He joked that he had interviewed at least 1,000 people in the room and thanked them for coming on the show, even apologizing humorously to those whose clips he had forgotten to play.

But when it came to naming his favorite guest, there was only one answer.

Colbert singled out his wife, Evelyn McGee-Colbert, whom he affectionately calls Evie.

“Thank you, darling,” he said, thanking her for being his “only crew and my only guest during COVID” and the audience whose laughter mattered most to him.

“Yours is the laugh that I want for the rest of my life. I love you.”

“We’ll Catch You All on the Flip”

Colbert then turned his attention to the audience watching the ceremony.

“I want to say to the audience, thank you so much for watching,” he said. “We hope you enjoyed the show. We had a great time doing it for you.”

He ended the speech with a line that felt especially fitting for a program that had already taken its final bow:

“That’s it, thank you. We’ll catch you all on the flip.”

The moment brought the evening’s celebration back to the unusual circumstances surrounding the win. The Late Show was accepting one of television’s biggest honors after its run had already ended.

The Late Show’s Final Emmy Chapter

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert received its first Emmy nomination in 2017 and accumulated 42 nominations over the course of its run. The Television Academy currently lists seven Emmy wins for the program.

CBS canceled the series in July 2025, describing the decision as “purely a financial decision” and saying it was not related to the show’s performance, content or other matters at Paramount.

Colbert had criticized Paramount over its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump following the cancellation announcement.

The final episode eventually aired on May 21, 2026, bringing Colbert’s 11-year tenure as host to a close. His final show featured a musical farewell with Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste.

The Emmy victory therefore served as one of the last major celebrations of the program — and a recognition of the hundreds of people who helped build it.

The Other Variety Series Nominees

The Late Show competed against The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live for Outstanding Variety Series.

The Daily Show has continued its current iteration since 2024, with Jon Stewart serving as its veteran host alongside rotating anchors including Josh Johnson, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, Jordan Klepper and Desi Lydic.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which premiered on HBO in April 2014, has earned 76 Emmy nominations and 32 wins. Oliver has also confirmed that the show will continue through the end of 2027.

Meanwhile, Saturday Night Live entered its 52nd season in 2026. The long-running NBC sketch series has received 349 Emmy nominations since 1977 and has won 94 awards.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! has received 48 Emmy nominations since 2007 and has won three.

But on this particular night, the honor belonged to Colbert and the team behind The Late Show.

For a program that had already said its final goodbye, the Emmy win offered one more chance for its staff to stand together — and for Colbert to thank the people and viewers who had been part of the journey.