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Fans of the Rolling Stones had hoped for this, and the rumor mill had been bubbling about this for months. Are the Stones going on a big tour in 2026? There was talk of stadium dates, Great Britain, Europe; The fact that a new studio album was almost finished made things even more exciting. Now the Stones themselves are speaking plainly about a tour in 2026 – and they have bad news.
The Rolling Stones: Tour 2026 will not take place
The Rolling Stones will not play a UK and European stadium tour in 2026. Corresponding plans were scrapped, as a source close to the band told “Variety“Confirmed. The decisive factor is that guitarist Keith Richards cannot commit to the physical demands of a tour lasting several months.
The tour had never been officially announced, but was considered almost certain and already prepared. Touring keyboardist Chuck Leavell and a spokesman for the band recently stated in Great Britain that the Stones were about to finish a new album (the second with producer Andrew Watt) and were then planning concerts in Great Britain and Europe. These considerations have now been stopped.
Keith Richards: Four-month tour not possible
Richards, who turns 82 on December 18, has suffered from arthritis for years. He has publicly stated that the illness forced him to make adjustments to his guitar playing. Although he performed a short set at the Soho Sessions in New York last month, a tour lasting several weeks through several countries represents a significantly greater physical strain than individual performances.
An unnamed US music critic told the British SunRichards stated in internal discussions that he could not commit to a four-month stadium tour. Another spokesperson, also anonymous, said the band had tried to tour earlier in the year but had also been unable to make that happen. “Variety” In his report, he refers to a source from the band’s immediate environment.