Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, will leave the network in June 2027, bringing an end to a 43-year career covering international conflicts, political developments and humanitarian crises.
Amanpour, 68, announced her decision on Monday, October 19, 2026, saying she had spent months considering the move before deciding to leave the network where she began her career in 1983.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” she said in a statement.
The journalist said she was looking forward to new projects while expressing continued support for CNN and its tradition of independent journalism.
“Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said, reaffirming a principle that has become closely associated with her approach to reporting.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant and gradually rose through the ranks to become one of the network’s most recognisable international correspondents. Over the course of her career, she reported from some of the world’s most challenging conflict zones, covering the First Gulf War, the Bosnian War and the genocide in Rwanda. Her reporting also took her to Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran, among other locations.
Her work brought international attention to wars, political upheavals and humanitarian crises, while her interviews with world leaders and other influential figures established her as a prominent voice in international broadcasting. Since 2009, Amanpour has hosted her flagship interview programme, Amanpour, on CNN International. She reduced her hosting schedule in January 2025 and is expected to move the programme to a weekly format in January 2027 before it ends in May.
She will continue reporting and travelling for CNN until her departure in June 2027.
CNN chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson announced Amanpour’s decision in a memo to staff, revealing that they had discussed her departure for several months.
“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally,” Thompson said.
He described Amanpour as “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere” and said the network would celebrate her contributions before she leaves.
In her statement, Amanpour also thanked the colleagues, production teams and field crews who had worked alongside her throughout her career.
Reflecting on her experiences covering major international events, she highlighted the importance of teamwork in gathering evidence, establishing facts and reporting events accurately. She said the relationships and camaraderie built with her colleagues had been central to her work, particularly during assignments in dangerous environments.
Amanpour’s departure from CNN follows plans to conclude her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, in December 2026. She will continue co-hosting The Ex Files, a podcast produced by Global, with her former husband, Jamie Rubin. She has also expressed interest in pursuing new projects after leaving CNN.
Her announcement comes weeks after Paramount Skydance completed its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026, bringing CNN and CBS under the same corporate ownership. The ownership changes have raised questions about the future of newsroom independence, given the reported political connections of the merged company’s owners. However, Amanpour has not directly linked her decision to leave CNN to the merger.
In her remarks, she emphasised the importance of independent journalism amid what she described as unprecedented political, financial and professional pressures.
“You know I’ve always been fiercely independent, and I will continue to be that for you as long as I am here and beyond,” she said in a video message shared on social media.
She also highlighted the growing dangers faced by journalists working in the field.
Amanpour’s planned departure marks the end of a significant chapter in CNN’s history and offers an opportunity to reflect on a career shaped by decades of international reporting. From her early days at the network to her work covering wars and interviewing influential figures, she has built a professional legacy centred on reporting from the ground, examining events closely and bringing international developments to global audiences.
