Late Show Sign Removed From Ed Sullivan Theater

The iconic signage was replaced with new branding following the end of Stephen Colbert's run on the program.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a theater facade and an industrial boom lift, depicting a structural change to a historic venue. — The exterior signage at New York City's historic Ed Sullivan Theater has been removed and replaced following the conclusion of the long-running late-night program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Workers in New York City have replaced the exterior Late Show sign at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. The change comes months after Stephen Colbert concluded his 11-year tenure on the program.

Why it matters

The sign replacement marks the official transition of the Midtown Manhattan venue following the high-profile conclusion of the long-running late-night talk show.

The Ed Sullivan Theater, which first opened in 1927, spans 13 stories in Midtown Manhattan. The previous interior branding was sold at a charity auction earlier in 2026.

The players

Stephen Colbert

He is a comedian and television host who completed an 11-year run as the host of The Late Show.

Ed Sullivan Theater

This historic Midtown Manhattan venue has served as a broadcast hub for major television programs since the mid-20th century.

CBS

This major American television network owns and operates the historic theater property in New York City.

The details

Workers utilized boom lifts on September 23, 2026, to remove the Late Show branding and install a new sign reading Ed Sullivan Theater with a CBS logo. Meanwhile, the former interior sign from the production has found a new home at the WeHo Bistro in West Hollywood, California.

The Ed Sullivan Theater originally opened in 1927.
Stephen Colbert concluded his 11-year run on May 21, 2026.
WeHo Bistro posted about the interior sign on June 29, 2026.
Workers installed the new theater sign on September 23, 2026.

Market Landscape

This removal follows the pattern set by the 2015 transition of the Ed Sullivan Theater for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, signaling a new era for the venue. Such changes reflect the shifting nature of broadcast real estate as long-running production contracts reach their conclusion.

Local residents and visitors in Midtown Manhattan will notice a visual change at the historic theater site. This update marks a permanent conclusion to the branding presence established during the host's long tenure.

The takeaway

The transformation of the theater entrance serves as a reminder of the transient nature of long-running television productions in historic spaces. Fans of the show can still find remnants of the set in private collections like the one in California.