Jon Stewart isn’t leaving “The Daily Show” anytime soon. The longtime satirist and cultural critic has officially renewed his contract with Comedy Central, extending his run as Monday-night host and executive producer through December 2026, Paramount announced on Monday, November 3.
“The renewal is a win for audiences, for Comedy Central and for all our programming partners,” said Ari Pearce, head of Comedy Central, in a statement. “We’re proud to support Jon and the extraordinary news team.”
The deal cements Stewart’s presence on the late-night landscape for at least another year, guaranteeing his voice through the 2026 midterm elections a politically charged season likely to bring fresh material for the sharp-tongued comedian.
Jon Stewart, 62, first hosted The Daily Show from 1998 to 2015, shaping it into a cornerstone of American political satire and launching the careers of correspondents like Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and John Oliver. After nearly a decade away, he returned to the Comedy Central desk in 2024 for a part-time hosting role, taking the reins on Monday nights while serving as an executive producer for the rest of the week’s episodes.
Speaking on podcast in October, Stewart hinted at his desire to stay put, saying he was “working on staying” with the program that helped define his career. His renewed deal ends speculation that his tenure might be cut short following the Paramount Skydance merger, which had cast uncertainty over several long-running properties.
The announcement also arrives as late-night television weathers a volatile political and cultural moment. Former President Donald Trump has increasingly turned his attention toward late-night hosts, frequently blasting them on his Truth Social platform.
In recent months, Trump took aim at both Jimmy Kimmel who was briefly pulled off the air in September following criticism of the former president and Seth Meyers, whom he labeled “the least talented person to ‘perform’ live in the history of television” after Meyers mocked his overseas trip.
Jon Stewart himself has long been a vocal critic of Trump, though he has not spared Democrats from scrutiny either. He’s drawn attention for his sharp rebukes of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the party’s handling of several recent political crises.
The timing of Stewart’s renewal coincides with a ratings resurgence for The Daily Show. Paramount reported that the program recently logged its highest quarterly ratings in four years, buoyed by Stewart’s return and renewed viewer engagement in the run-up to the 2026 elections.
The Daily Show’s current roster of correspondents includes Ronny Chieng, Josh Johnson, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, Desi Lydic, Troy Iwata, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt, all of whom contribute to the show’s mix of field pieces, political satire, and on-the-ground reporting.
Jon Stewart’s extension marks a rare moment of stability in an increasingly fractured late-night ecosystem. With traditional talk shows facing audience erosion, Stewart’s continued presence offers Comedy Central both cultural credibility and political edge.
As the 2026 midterms loom and the U.S. political climate grows ever more polarized, Jon Stewart’s brand of earnest yet biting satire is likely to remain a fixture and a flashpoint in the national conversation.