Jimmy Kimmel, ABC enter talks to renew late-night show

Jimmy Kimmel and Disney's ABC have entered negotiations over whether Kimmel will continue hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live beyond the current 2026–2027 season

According to Variety, the talks confirm that recent tabloid reports suggesting Kimmel had already decided to walk away were inaccurate, Puck had previously reported the two sides were discussing renewal terms, and Deadline separately confirmed the negotiations are ongoing.

Neither Disney nor a representative for Kimmel has commented publicly on the discussions.

Kimmel moved from a standard three-year contract to a one-year deal in 2025, a shift reflecting both his long tenure in the role and the increasingly difficult economics of late-night television, which has lost much of the younger audience and advertising dollars it once commanded. 

According to ad-tracking firm Guideline, total late-night TV ad spending fell from $519.7 million in 2017 to just $209 million in 2025, with Jimmy Kimmel Live accounting for $51.1 million of that spend in 2024, or 21% of the category. 

Despite the financial pressure, ABC reportedly wants the show to make budget cuts to remain financially viable going forward, according to Puck, the show currently costs as much as $100 million to produce, comparable to Stephen Colbert's since-canceled Late Show.

The renewal talks come roughly a year after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live for six days last September over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's death, a decision that drew significant backlash from political figures, celebrities and industry unions before Disney brought him back following what it described as "thoughtful conversations" with the host. 

Kimmel has continued pushing back publicly against the Trump administration and the FCC since returning, including recent comments criticising FCC chair Brendan Carr.