Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international anchor, announced on October 19, 2026 that she will leave the network at the end of June 2027, ending a 43-year tenure that began in 1983. Her CNN International program will scale back to weekly broadcasts early in 2027 before ending in May, and her PBS program will close by the end of 2026.
Christiane Amanpour, CNN's longtime chief international anchor, said on Monday, October 19, 2026, that she will depart the network at the end of June 2027. The announcement ends a run that started in 1983, making her tenure 43 years, according to NBC News and Mediaite.
CNN chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson confirmed the departure in a memo to staff the same day. According to NBC News and the New Republic, he wrote that he and Amanpour, 68, had been discussing the decision for some months, and said he was sorry to see her go but had come to accept that the timing was right for her both personally and professionally.
How the exit will unfold
The wind-down happens in stages, according to Mediaite. Amanpour's PBS program and her daily CNN schedule conclude by the end of 2026. Early in 2027, her CNN International show "Amanpour" moves from daily to weekly broadcasts, continuing until it concludes in May 2027. She remains with CNN, reporting and traveling, through the end of June 2027.
Timeline of Amanpour's departure
Date
What happens
October 19, 2026
Departure announced by Amanpour and CNN chairman Mark Thompson
End of 2026
Amanpour's PBS program and daily CNN schedule conclude
Early 2027
CNN International show "Amanpour" drops from daily to weekly
May 2027
Weekly "Amanpour" program concludes
End of June 2027
Amanpour formally leaves CNN
Amanpour said she plans to continue hosting a podcast produced with Global after leaving CNN, according to Mediaite.
A four-decade career
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 and became the network's chief international anchor. Over the following decades she covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Bosnian war, the Persian Gulf War, the post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Arab Spring, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Israel's war in Gaza, NBC News reported. The outlet also said she interviewed world leaders including former President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and various Iranian presidents.
Always be truthful, not neutral.
— Christiane Amanpour, in her farewell statement, as reported by Mediaite and the New Republic
In her own statement, as reported by NBC News, Amanpour thanked colleagues for what she described as an incredible journey and said their shared commitment had been to report on the world honestly and without fear or favor.
Timing and the change of ownership
The announcement came two weeks after David Ellison's Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, bringing CNN under the same ownership as CBS, according to the New Republic and Mediaite. Mediaite reported that, during a recent appearance in London, Amanpour had voiced concern about the direction of the newly combined company, which the outlet described as an ideological realignment.
NBC News's report of Amanpour's farewell statement did not include any direct reference to Ellison or the change in ownership. Separately, NBC News and Mediaite reported that Mark Thompson is continuing to lead CNN under the new ownership structure.
As of the announcement, CNN had not named a successor for the "Amanpour" program, according to NBC News and Mediaite.
Questions
When exactly will Christiane Amanpour leave CNN?
She will formally leave CNN at the end of June 2027. Her schedule winds down in stages before that: her PBS program and daily CNN schedule end by the close of 2026, and her CNN International show goes weekly early in 2027 before concluding in May 2027.
How long did Christiane Amanpour work at CNN?
She joined CNN in 1983, making her departure after 43 years at the network, according to NBC News and Mediaite.
Why is Amanpour leaving CNN now?
CNN chairman Mark Thompson said the decision had been discussed with Amanpour for some months and that the timing was right for her personally and professionally. The announcement came two weeks after Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, completed its acquisition of CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, though NBC News reported her statement did not directly reference the ownership change.
What will Amanpour do after leaving CNN?
She said she plans to continue hosting a podcast produced with Global, according to Mediaite.
What happens to Amanpour's CNN and PBS shows?
Her PBS program and daily CNN schedule end by the close of 2026. Her CNN International show "Amanpour" becomes weekly early in 2027 and concludes in May 2027, ahead of her final departure from CNN in June 2027.
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