The rumors about Howard Stern hanging it up have been swirling like a Category 5 hurricane for years. Every time his contract gets close to the finish line, the internet goes into a collective meltdown. People start speculating about whether he's finally bored, too tired, or just ready to retreat to his mansion in Florida to paint and hang out with his wife, Beth.
Well, if you were looking for a retirement party, you’re going to have to wait.
Honestly, the news just broke a few weeks ago, and it’s pretty definitive. Howard isn’t going anywhere yet. On December 16, 2025, Stern sat down at his microphone and did what he does best: he controlled the narrative. He officially signed a new three-year extension with SiriusXM. This means the King of All Media is locked in through at least 2028.
Is Howard Stern Retiring Anytime Soon?
The short answer is no. But the long answer is a bit more complicated than just "business as usual."
Stern is 71 years old now. He’s been doing this since the Carter administration. During his big announcement in late 2025, he admitted that he actually "totally shut down" over the previous summer to think about his future. He was genuinely torn. He’s worked his entire life, and he openly wondered if it was finally time to have a personal life—to have some "me time" that didn't involve prepping for a four-hour broadcast.
But he found a loophole. Or rather, he negotiated one.
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The new deal isn't a carbon copy of his old five-year, $500 million contract. He described it as a way to "have it all." Basically, he gets more free time and a more flexible schedule while staying on the air. Think of it as a semi-retirement in plain sight. He’s still the face of the platform, but he's not grinding like he was in 1995.
The Andy Cohen Prank That Fooled Everyone
Before the deal was official, things got weird.
In September 2025, Stern pulled a classic stunt that almost broke the SiriusXM stock price. He had Andy Cohen show up at the start of the show, pretending to take over the channel permanently. Cohen even joked the show was being renamed "Andy 100."
News outlets actually fell for it. For about ten minutes, half the world thought Stern was fired or retired. When Howard finally stepped in to reveal it was a prank, he admitted the motivation to keep going actually grew because of the rumors. People were saying he was "too woke" or "canceled," and that just made him want to stay on the air to prove them wrong.
What the New Contract Actually Looks Like
We don't have every single line of the legal document, but we know enough to see the shift. The three-year extension is shorter than his previous five-year runs. That’s a signal. It’s a "let's see how I feel" kind of deal.
- The Schedule: Expect even more weeks off. He’s already been taking summers off for a while, but this new "flexible" arrangement likely means fewer live days per week or more remote broadcasts from his home studios.
- The Loyalty: Howard has been with Sirius since 2006. He’s incredibly loyal to the company because, as he put it, they told him "whatever you want to do, we’ll do for you." That’s a hard offer to walk away from when you’re 71.
- The Financials: While the specific dollar amount hasn't been blasted on every billboard, industry insiders assume it’s still in the stratosphere. His previous deal was roughly $100 million a year. Even with a lighter schedule, his value to SiriusXM is massive.
Analysis from firms like Credit Suisse has suggested that if Stern left, up to 15% of SiriusXM's subscribers might follow him out the door. That is a terrifying number for a media company navigating a world dominated by free podcasts and Spotify. They need him more than he needs them, and his new contract reflects that power dynamic.
Why the Retirement Rumors Keep Coming Back
It's not just the contract cycles. People see a different Howard Stern than the one from the E! Show days. He’s morphed into the world’s most elite long-form interviewer. He’s talking to Kamala Harris, Bruce Springsteen, and Jennifer Aniston. He’s not throwing bologna at strippers anymore.
Some fans of the "old" Howard see this evolution as a sign that he’s lost his fire. They assume that because he’s "mellowed," he must be ready to quit. Then you have the political side. His public feuds with Donald Trump—who used to be a frequent guest—have made him a target for "cancelation" rumors from the right. Every time he takes a vacation, people claim he's been "secretly fired."
It’s all noise.
The reality is that Howard is a workaholic who is terrified of being bored. He’s mentioned on air that he doesn't know what he'd do with himself if he didn't have the show. The "woke" criticism actually seems to energize him. He’s leaning into this elder statesman of broadcasting role, and as long as he can do it three days a week from a comfortable chair, he probably will.
The "Robin" Factor
Here is the thing nobody talks about enough: Robin Quivers.
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Howard has been very vocal about the fact that if Robin isn't there, there is no show. During the December announcement, he specifically mentioned that he checked with her first. If she had wanted to retire, he would have walked. They are a package deal. As long as Robin is healthy and willing to hop on the mic, the Howard Stern Show lives on.
What This Means for You
If you're a listener, you've got a green light for the next few years. The show returned live on January 5, 2026, and the vibe is surprisingly refreshed.
What should you expect? Probably more of the "Golden Hour" style content. Long, deep-dive interviews with A-list celebs and more focus on the staff’s internal lives (the stuff with Gary, Jon Hein, and the Wack Pack). You might see fewer "live" weeks in the heart of winter or summer, so get used to "Sternthology" and "the tapes."
The bottom line: Howard Stern is not retiring in 2026. He’s signed until 2028.
If you want to keep up with the latest broadcast schedule, the best move is to check the official SiriusXM app or the "Schedule" page on HowardStern.com. They update the live dates there fairly regularly, though Howard still loves to keep his vacation dates a bit of a mystery to keep the audience guessing. For now, the King stays on his throne.
Check your subscription status now if you've been holding out, because this three-year window might truly be the final act of the greatest radio run in history.