The Simpsons, television's longest-running scripted primetime series, may be approaching its conclusion, with voice actor Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) predicting the show will end in 2029 after its 40th season. Speaking on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast Inside of You, Cartwright described this as her personal opinion rather than confirmed insider knowledge, and the show has only officially been renewed through Season 40 so far. This has reignited discussion about how the sitcom, now nearing 40 years on air, might eventually bow out after so many near-misses with cancellation.

Showrunner Matt Selman previously addressed the question in February, around the show's 800th episode, saying he had no plans to end it but that any eventual finale would deliberately avoid sentimentality — simply a regular episode with the family, perhaps featuring small Easter eggs but no emotional farewell. He pointed to a 2024 episode, "Bart's Birthday," which parodied typical finale tropes, explaining that the show's format resets weekly and was never designed for a dramatic send-off. Despite the speculation, The Simpsons shows no signs of slowing down, with a new film due in 2027 and continued expansion into games and streaming, leaving many fans sceptical that any finale would truly be permanent.