Veteran international journalist Christiane Amanpour has announced that she will leave CNN next June, bringing an end to a 43-year career at the global news network.
Amanpour, one of the most recognisable figures in international broadcast journalism, made the announcement on Monday, October 19, 2026, saying her decision followed months of reflection and several sleepless nights.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” Amanpour said in a statement.
The award-winning journalist said she was looking forward to exploring new opportunities while remaining supportive of the network that shaped much of her professional life.
She added that she looked forward to interesting new projects in the future and would continue rooting for CNN while supporting its tradition of independent journalism.
Amanpour also left a message reflecting her approach to journalism, urging reporters to remain committed to the truth.
“Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said.
Her departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter at CNN, where she has covered some of the most consequential events in modern history, including wars, political upheavals, humanitarian crises and diplomatic negotiations.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as a news desk assistant in Atlanta before rising through the ranks to become one of its leading international correspondents.
She gained international recognition for her reporting during the 1990–1991 Gulf War, when her coverage from the region helped establish her as a prominent voice in global journalism.
Over the decades, she reported from conflict zones and political hotspots across the world, including Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Iran.
Her work brought international attention to wars, human rights abuses and humanitarian emergencies, while her interviews with presidents, prime ministers and other influential figures cemented her reputation as a leading international interviewer.
Her career has earned her numerous journalism honours and recognition for her contribution to international reporting.
Amanpour's exit is expected to follow a gradual transition. She is scheduled to conclude her daily CNN programme at the end of 2026 before moving to a weekly schedule for her CNN International programme in January 2027.
The programme is expected to conclude in May 2027, ahead of her final departure from the network in June 2027.
Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, is also expected to end in December 2026. She has additionally been involved in other media projects, including The Ex Files, a podcast co-hosted with her former husband, Jamie Rubin.
CNN chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson has acknowledged her contribution to the network, recognising her standing as one of the most prominent journalists in international broadcasting.
Amanpour's departure will close a defining chapter in CNN's international reporting history, ending a career that took her from the newsroom to some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones and influential centres of power.
Her parting message, emphasising truth over neutrality, reflects a longstanding debate in journalism about the responsibility of reporters to challenge falsehoods while maintaining fairness, accuracy and independence in their coverage.
