Jimmy Kimmel Live! plans notable change for 2026

Jimmy Kimmel Live! shocked fans with a major change to the show.

The presence of musical guests on late-night televisions is set to shrink further in 2026 with Jimmy Kimmel Live! planning to reduce the number of weekly performance slots.

Deadline has confirmed that the ABC talk show will cut back to around two musical performances per week, though the number is not fixed and the show has never guaranteed a performance every night.

Despite the planned reduction, this week will feature three musical appearances.

Folk artist Molly Tuttle performs on Monday, Debbie Gibson sits in with The Cletones on Wednesday and HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters, featuring EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, takes the stage on Thursday.

Moreover, The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that JKL! music producer Jim Pitt has been notifying artist managers, labels and bookers of the upcoming change. Pitt works alongside former sElf bassist Mac Burrus.

For the unversed, the move reflects a broader industry trend. According to a Consequence of Sound report, late-night musical performances dropped from roughly 800 between 2011 and 2013 to closer to 200 in 2023.

The news follows Jimmy Kimmel’s Critics Choice win for Best Talk Show, where he thanked President Donald “Jennifer” Trump, along with Disney executives Dana Walden and Rob Mills, and OpenAI founder Sam Altman.