A report surfaced in September 2026 that Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night ABC talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, would end after his current contract expires. ABC has debunked the report, but Disney executive Dana Walden now seems to suggest that his future with the company is uncertain, while acknowledging that his ratings have increased.
Disney President Dana Walden Says Late-Night TV Is ‘Challenging’
Walden appeared on Bloomberg’s “Screentime” in October 2026 and discussed a wealth of topics involving Disney, including the rumblings about Kimmel’s future hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for ABC. When discussing the show and the host, the Disney head admitted that despite growth, late-night television has changed.
She said, “It’s a very challenging daypart, late-night.” Regarding the long-running host, Walden said, “That’s not to say that Jimmy is not doing a phenomenal job, and his ratings are up, but they’re up relative to a smaller audience that’s watching late-night on broadcast television.”
From there, Walden noted clear interest in Kimmel’s show, citing his engagement on social media with clips from the show. According to her, “Obviously, there’s a YouTube channel. Millions of people are watching parts of that show on demand. That is not a lucrative opportunity for a very premium talk show.”
Dana Walden Says The Company Loves Kimmel
Speaking to Bloomberg’s “Screentime,” the Disney president not only discussed Kimmel’s value as on-air talent, but also referred to him as a friend. She said, regarding the future of the show, “So we’re trying to make sense of the business while also honoring a deep partnership.”
Walden continued, “I love Jimmy. We have a great friendship. He’s close to a number of the people at Disney, and again, we’re trying to work through it and make sense of both. What does Jimmy want? What’s the right thing to do, and what’s the right thing for our business?”
Regarding Walden’s tenure as Disney president and Chief Creative Officer, she officially took over the role in March 2026. She previously served as the company’s Co-Chair of Entertainment.
The Initial Report Said ‘Kimmel’ Would End In 2027
Page Six reported on September 8 that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would not be renewed beyond its current season, with his current contract rumored to end in May 2027. An insider told the outlet, “His contract is not getting extended.”
The insider also said the show’s alleged cancellation was not the result of Kimmel’s ongoing feud with the Trump administration. However, an ABC spokesperson responded to the report, telling the outlet, “[This] information is inaccurate — any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative.”
Jimmy Kimmel Remains Number One In Late-Night
ABC released a press release in September 2026, revealing that the 2025-2026 season of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged 2 million viewers. This figure is notable as it gave the host his most-watched season in eight years. “Live!” performed especially well with 18-49 viewers, averaging a 0.18 share and making it the top late-night show in this demographic.
Additionally, the newest season, which premiered on September 21, averaged 2.29 million total viewers and remained the most-watched show in the genre.
Kimmel Is Producing Multiple Projects
In addition to being on-air talent, Kimmel is also a noted producer, including the revival of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which he also hosts for ABC. One of his upcoming projects where he’ll serve as an executive producer is the Netflix documentary “SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of.” It premieres October 30.
Kimmel is also producing a new family competition series for the streaming giant, “SCHOOLED,” hosted by Mark Rober. The show doesn’t have a release date yet.
