CBS announced recently that the popular and multi-award-winning The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is being cancelled in May 2026. Here’s how to get tickets before the show goes off the air.
Tickets to shows taped in NYC are FREE. Anybody who wants to sell you tickets to a late night TV show is scamming you.
Some rules first –
Dress appropriately, since you might be on TV during audience shots. All live TV shows reserve the right to deny you admission, even with a ticket, if you are dressed inappropriately for TV or appear to be “under the influence”.
Dressing inappropriately includes t-shirts with lewd, racist or political slogans and extremely revealing tops.
ecoXplorer Insider Tip:
- As a former TV News reporter (for WABC-TV Eyewitness News in NYC), ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter knows that that TV studios are normally kept cold, between 55 and 65 degrees, to compensate for the hot lights.
- So this word of advice – bring a sweater or light jacket with you, including in summer.
Expect airport-like security for some shows, including showing a valid photo ID with proof of age, and proof of Covid vaccination for entry.
Phones, tablets and other recording devices are permitted, but may not used during a taping.
You will be ejected from the audience for using an electronic device for any reason during a taping. Save your selfies or texting for before or after the taping.
Perhaps most important, there is no guarantee of admission even with a ticket, so do not book airline tickets based on attending a TV show taping.
Here’s one of the many articles about the show’s cancellation, by NPR, which is suffering a major financial crisis because of Administration funding cutbacks, so I picked them for some link love.
- ecoXplorer editorial – The announcement came less than a week after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid by CBS parent company Paramount to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump during last year’s presidential campaign. Some observers feel the cancellation is political, not financial, since Paramount is in the process of being sold and needs Trump Administration approval. Jon Stewart also has spoken out on the subject, and fear The Daily Show also could be cancelled for similar reasons.
See Also
How to Get FREE Tickets to
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Saturday Night Live (SNL)
How to Get FREE Tickets to Seth Meyers
How to Get Tickets to
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is taped at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway, between 53rd and 54th Streets, Monday through Friday at 5:30pm.
Tickets are released one calendar month at a time, and sometimes sell out on the day of the release.
Wait list tickets are available up to ten days ahead.
Follow the show’s official Facebook and Twitter pages to find out release dates.
If you a lucky enough to get a ticket, you will be notified text by CCNotifier, which requires that you install the app PushBullet on your cellphone.
VIP tickets are available occasionally. These are fund-raisers for charities, and vary by price.
Plan to arrive no later than 3pm to join the ticket line, even earlier if you want to be in one of the front rows. The website recommends as early as 11am for seats up front.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert no longer offers standby tickets.
Link to request free tickets
CBS Studios COVID-19 Attendance Policies (from the website)
All attendees must:
- Be fully vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 booster shot (if eligible) prior to your date of attendance.
- Provide in Person Verification of full Vaccination and booster shot
Prior to entering the theater, provide proof of official vaccination through the Excelsior Pass (for NY State Residents), CLEAR (if available to you) or an original physical vaccination card (copies and photos will not be accepted).
Trained individuals will be reviewing proof of vaccination at check-in.
Be 18 years of age or over, or 16 years of age or older if attending with a parent or legal guardian.
There are no exceptions to these requirements, according to the Late Show with Stephen Colbert ticket information website page.
See Also
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at Local Restaurants Not National Chains
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is an award-winning journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is President Emeritus of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA).
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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How can I plan a trip to NY NY in early December and know ahead of time that I have tickets
Following the directions in the article is the best way to get tickets. Also – as the article advises – do not make your travel plans based on the hope or expectation you will get tickets. December is a great time to visit my hometown, whether or not you have tickets to The Late Show. Best of luck – and be sure to let us know if you score the ticket you want.
I really want to see Stephen Colbert.
Bucket list item. I was hoping to make it up there next year. Now, I am desperately trying to get tickets