In a major shift for one of America's longest-running talk shows, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will cease its tradition of nightly musical performances. The decision, confirmed by industry sources, marks a significant reduction in live music on the programme and follows months of controversy and reported budget constraints at the ABC network.
Behind the Budget Cuts and Schedule Change
The move comes several months after the show faced a temporary suspension in September 2025. That hiatus occurred when numerous affiliate stations decided to boycott the programme following host Jimmy Kimmel's comments concerning the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Although the show returned to air, new reports indicate its budget has since been tightened.
Kimmel, who recently signed a new contract with Disney, ABC's parent company, to remain as host until at least 2027, will now see the show's format altered. Sources speaking to The Hollywood Reporter revealed that musical acts will now be showcased only two nights a week, a stark drop from the previous nightly schedule. Variety further reported that while the total number of musical guests will be slashed, the exact number of weekly performances may vary.
A Shrinking Late-Night Landscape
This retrenchment at Jimmy Kimmel Live! is not happening in isolation. It reflects a broader contraction within the US late-night television sector. Most notably, Stephen Colbert's The Late Show, the most-watched late-night programme on US broadcast television, is scheduled to end in May 2026. CBS, the network airing Colbert's show, has stated the cancellation is a purely financial decision and the slot will not be replaced.
When Colbert's cancellation was announced, Kimmel shared a public message of support on Instagram, writing "Love you Stephen." In a more pointed separate note aimed at CBS, Kimmel wrote: "F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS."
Awards, AI, and Ongoing Political Feuds
Despite the behind-the-scenes changes, Kimmel's public profile remains high. On 4 January 2026, he won the Best Talk Show prize at the Critics Choice Awards. During his acceptance speech, delivered from a theatrically long scroll of paper, he sarcastically thanked former President Donald Trump for "the many ridiculous things you do each and every day."
He also joked about the "FIFA Peace Prize," a reference to the award given to Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw. Kimmel thanked Disney executives Bob Iger and Dana Walden, as well as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, quipping that Altman "now owns my voice and face. Please don't do anything weird with it." This comment alluded to a $1 billion deal between Disney and OpenAI announced in December 2025, which licenses Disney characters for use in AI video generation.
The political sparring with Trump continues. When Kimmel's show was suspended last September, Trump called it "Great News for America" and labelled the programme "ratings challenged." After ABC reinstated the show, Trump attacked again, stating Kimmel had "ZERO talent" and should be removed from the airwaves.
The format change for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which first aired in 2003, signals a new, more fiscally cautious era for the institution, mirroring the challenges facing the entire late-night TV genre.
