Jimmy Kimmel’s fate has been decided at ABC ahead of the end of his contract in May 2026. Following a tumultuous year for Kimmel, many fans of the late-night talk show host believed that he could be ready to pack it all in and move on, especially when the man himself has suggested that he was still contemplating his future. Now though, it looks like Kimmel is going nowhere just yet, and has had his current contract extended by a year through the 2026-2027 season. Jimmy Kimmel had the worst and best of times recently. He was suspended for a week in September after his comments related to the death of Charlie Kirk were elevated to a level of outrage rarely seen in TV reactions, scored his biggest viewership in a decade on his return to screens, and then had to suffer the loss of his long-term band leader, Cleto Escobedo III. It would have not been surprising if Kimmel had decided to call it a day, and he previously said of pondering his future:
“I often answer that question, and then I do the opposite of what I said. I previously said, ‘this is going to be like my last one,’ the last three contracts… So I’ve learned not to say anything anymore, because it upsets my staff.”
Of course, Kimmel’s contract renewal will no doubt be met with great joy by the comedian’s biggest supporter, President Donald Trump. After spending months sending fan mail to Kimmel in the form of multiple posts on his Truth Social platform, the president can rest safe in the knowledge that he will be able to continue to support his favorite late-night host for around another 18 months at least.
Why Does Jimmy Kimmel Goad Donald Trump So Much?

ABC

For the last few years, back and forths between Kimmel and Trump have been the center of many of Kimmel’s opening monologs on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, for some, perhaps too many. Yet, the support shown for Kimmel during his suspension was a stark contrast to the celebration of Kimmel being off-air from the president. Shortly after his return to screens, Kimmel took a moment to share the reason why he “goes hard” on Donald Trump. He said:
“For those who think I go too hard on Donald Trump, to the point where there are still a lot of people who think I should be pulled off the air for making fun of Donald Trump. I talk about Trump more than anything because he’s a bully. I don’t like bullies. Donald Trump is an old fashioned 80s movie style bully taking your lunch money, and if you give it to him once, he’ll take it again. That is Donald Trump, okay?”
So, it looks like Donald Trump is going to be stuck with Kimmel yapping in his ear all the way through his presidency. What is more, Kimmel’s throw-away remark that he would leave his late-night post when Trump leaves the White House may just have become a pact that is actually one step closer to happening.

Release Date

January 26, 2003

Network

ABC

Writers

Joel Hodgson, Sal Iacono, Tony Barbieri, Eric Immerman, Jonathan Bines, Rick Rosner, Bryan Paulk, Danny Ricker, Jeff Loveness, Josh Halloway, Bess Kalb