Jimmy Kimmel is taking his annual summer break from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and he has put together a star-studded lineup of guest hosts to take over the show. The late-night host signed off on June 18, 2026, and will be away for two months. This summer break has become a tradition for Kimmel since 2020, allowing him to spend more time with his family while a rotating cast of celebrities fills his seat.
Kimmel made the announcement during his monologue on Thursday, June 18, joking about his departure. “I hope you’re paying attention this summer, because I will be taking the next two months off—this time voluntarily,” he told his audience. The joke referenced his temporary suspension by ABC last year over comments he made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s death.
Guest Host Lineup for Summer 2026
ABC has assembled a diverse group of entertainers to fill in during Kimmel’s absence. Tiffany Haddish will kick things off, hosting the week of July 6. The lineup includes a mix of returning favorites and first-time hosts.
The confirmed guest hosts are:
- Tiffany Haddish – Hosting the week of July 6
- Anthony Anderson – Kimmel’s most frequent guest host with 24 previous appearances
- Ike Barinholtz – A first-time guest host
- Colman Domingo – Hosting the week of July 20
- Jelly Roll – Returning after guest hosting in July 2025
The show will go into repeats until after the Fourth of July holiday, with new episodes featuring guest hosts beginning the week of July 6.
Rosie O’Donnell Joins the Lineup
Kimmel saved one special announcement for his final monologue. He revealed that Rosie O’Donnell, a long-time adversary of President Donald Trump, would also be guest hosting. “As a special treat for our commander in chief, I asked one of his all-time favourites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming,” Kimmel said.
O’Donnell’s spokesperson confirmed to multiple outlets that she will host a week of episodes starting Monday, August 17. O’Donnell shared Kimmel’s announcement on Instagram, adding, “And I can’t wait !!!”.
Kimmel continued his joke by addressing the president directly: “You’re welcome, and all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”
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A Summer Tradition Continues
Kimmel began taking summer breaks in 2020, and guest hosts have filled in every year since. Previous guest hosts have included Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence, Martin Short, Hugh Jackman, Chelsea Handler, and RuPaul, among others.
The show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu. The guest host lineup ensures that fans will have new episodes to enjoy throughout the summer while Kimmel takes his well-deserved break.
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