No. Howard Stern’s delayed return in September 2025 and a joke involving Andy Cohen fueled retirement rumors, but Stern returned to his SiriusXM show on September 8. He later announced a three-year renewal, and SiriusXM says he will continue with the company through 2028. The latest season began live on September 14, 2026.
Why did Howard Stern’s return spark retirement rumors?
Stern’s return from summer break was postponed in September 2025, prompting speculation about his contract and future at SiriusXM. When he came back on September 8, a fake handoff suggesting Andy Cohen would take over added to the confusion. The Associated Press later updated its report to clarify that the apparent departure announcement was a prank, not Stern saying he was leaving. Associated Press report.
Did Howard Stern leave SiriusXM?
No. On December 16, 2025, Stern announced a three-year renewal. He said the arrangement would let him have more free time and a more flexible schedule while continuing on radio. SiriusXM’s 2026 announcement says he continued with the company through 2028. The exact financial terms of the renewal have not been disclosed in the cited announcements. Stern’s renewal announcement; Associated Press report.
When did the current season return?
SiriusXM announced on August 31, 2026 that the show would return live on Mondays beginning September 14. Its recap confirms that Stern and Robin Quivers were back live that day. The show’s schedule and distribution described here reflect those 2026 announcements. SiriusXM’s season announcement; SiriusXM’s September 14 recap.
#1 Best Overall
- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED - Activate your radio/tuner with the All Access Plan and enjoy 165+ channels of ad-free music, plus sports, news, talk & comedy.
- ADVANCED FEATURES - Store up to 10 of your favorite SiriusXM channels or use TuneMix to create a blend of selected channels; plus, quickly return to the previous channel with One-Touch Jump.
- EASY-TO-READ DISPLAY - View what’s playing on the 3.2” high-resolution display, while using split screen mode to see what's currently playing on your other favorite channels. Two display options available -- white text on black background or black text on white background.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX - Complete vehicle kit for DIY vehicle stereo connection and installation, including the SiriusXM Onyx EZR radio, vehicle dock, dash & vent mount/clamps & hardware, power adapter, magnetic-mount antenna with aux-in cable, cable routing adapter, and mounting prep pads.
- GET ALERTS - Get alerts when your favorite songs, artists, or sports teams are playing on another channel.
How to listen or watch
The two announced options differ in format and timing:
| Service | Format | Timing and access |
|---|---|---|
| SiriusXM | Live radio show | Live Mondays; available on Howard 100 and through the SiriusXM app. SiriusXM also lists cars, phones and connected devices at home as listening options. Howard 100; SiriusXM’s Howard Stern page. |
| HBO Max | Adapted, streamable episode | Episodes began Thursday, September 17, 2026, with subsequent episodes announced for Thursdays. These are adapted episodes, not the live Monday broadcast. SiriusXM’s season announcement. |
SiriusXM said 40 cameras captured the live conversation used to create the HBO Max adaptation. That is the company’s production detail, not a measure of the show’s audience. SiriusXM’s announcement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED - Activate your radio/tuner with the All Access Plan and enjoy 165+ channels of ad-free music, plus sports, news, talk & comedy.
- SIRIUSXM-READY - Add satellite radio to any SiriusXM-Ready headunit; works with any car stereo displaying the SiriusXM-Ready logo from Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Alpine and more.
- CONTROL YOUR CONTENT - Pause, rewind, and replay up to 60 minutes of live satellite radio programming; plus, enjoy advanced music features, such as TuneStart, which allows you to restart songs from the beginning on your favorite channels.
- COLOR ART COMPATIBLE - Display album artwork, channel logos, and backgrounds on SiriusXM-Ready headunits with compatible color screens.
- GET ALERTS - Get alerts when your favorite songs, artists, or sports teams are playing on another channel.
Rank #4
- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED - Activate your radio/tuner with the All Access Plan and enjoy 165+ channels of ad-free music, plus sports, news, talk & comedy.
- ADVANCED FEATURES - Store up to 10 of your favorite SiriusXM channels or use TuneMix to create a blend of selected channels; plus, quickly return to the previous channel with One-Touch Jump or conveniently operate your radio from across the room with the included remote control.
- EASY-TO-READ DISPLAY - View what’s playing on the 3.2” high-resolution display, while using split screen mode to see what's currently playing on your other favorite channels. Two display options available -- white text on black background or black text on white background.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX - Complete home kit for DIY home stereo connection and installation, including SiriusXM Onyx EZR radio, home dock, remote control, indoor/outdoor home antenna, home power adapter, and stereo audio cable.
Rank #3
- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED - Activate your radio/tuner with the All Access Plan and enjoy 165+ channels of ad-free music, plus sports, news, talk & comedy.
- 360L TECHNOLOGY - Combines SiriusXM satellite and streaming features together to transform your listening experience and give you 360 degrees of listening.*
- VOICE SEARCH - Speak into the built-in microphone to search for & discover content, tune channels, browse categories, and find games of your favorite sports teams.
- BLUETOOTH AUDIO CONNECTIVITY - Easily connect to your radio, home sound system, or a Bluetooth speaker with Bluetooth audio streaming.
- MORE WAYS TO LISTEN - Listen to SiriusXM through your home audio system or powered speakers with the (1) Home Kit or dock-and-play for anywhere entertainment with the (2) Portable Speaker Dock. 1) With optional SXDH4 Home Kit (sold separately) 2) With optional SXSD2 Boombox (sold separately) *Access to Streaming content and certain features require internet connectivity via a Wi-Fi connection
Rank #2
- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED - Activate your radio/tuner with the All Access Plan and enjoy 165+ channels of ad-free music, plus sports, news, talk & comedy.
- BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY - Connect to your car's audio system via Bluetooth audio streaming, Aux or FM audio output for instant access to SiriusXM.
- MAGNETIC MOUNTING OPTIONS - Choose versatile magnetic vent or dash mount options (included) or a compatible alternative mounting solution (sold separately).
- CONTROL YOUR CONTENT - Pause, rewind, and replay up to 60 minutes of live satellite radio programming; plus, enjoy advanced music features, such as TuneStart, which allows you to restart songs from the beginning on your favorite channels.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX - SiriusXM Roady BT display and cable, intelligent power adapter, 3.5mm aux audio cable, magnetic adapter, wedge, vent and dash mounts, magnetic mount antenna
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