Rolling Stones Cancel 2026 Stadium Tour, Citing Keith Richards’ Health Concerns

The legendary rock band has shelved plans for a U.K. and European tour next year, as guitarist Keith Richards opts out of a months-long schedule, though new music is still expected.

When fans around the world began speculating about a possible Rolling Stones tour in 2026, excitement grew. After all, the iconic rock band had just wrapped their Hackney Diamonds tour in 2024, a North American run that sold nearly a million tickets and grossed around $235 million.
But in recent days, that long‑rumored return to the road — particularly a large‑scale stadium tour through the United Kingdom and Europe — has quietly fallen apart.

Unlike most cancellations, this one didn’t follow a formal announcement or press conference. Indeed, the tour was never officially announced at all. Yet for months, clues and hints from within the band’s circle suggested that something was being planned. Touring pianist Chuck Leavell sparked speculation by teasing that new music and tour plans were in the works, and insiders said talks with promoters had floated dates for summer 2026.

But when the band’s key members sat down to discuss committing to a months‑long stadium schedule, guitarist Keith Richards reportedly became hesitant. Multiple sources close to the band say Richards — who is turning 82 this December — simply didn’t feel he could handle the physical and logistical demands of a four‑month trek across Europe and the U.K.

Richards has been open in recent years about managing arthritis and the physical toll of performing, even though he continues to play and adapt his technique. Despite this, the idea of an extensive stadium run proved too much for him to commit to at this stage of his life.

A spokesperson told Variety and other outlets that while promoters were actively pitching ideas and dates, “Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months at this time.” The statement stressed that this wasn’t intended as a permanent end to touring — just a pause until the band feels ready again.

For fans, the news is understandably bittersweet. The Stones have toured almost every year since 2000, albeit with shorter schedules as the members have aged. Mick Jagger, Richards and Ronnie Wood are all octogenarians, and the realities of sustaining peak performance for months on end are starkly different than they once were.

The cancellation also follows a similar situation earlier in 2025, when another Europe tour plan was reportedly shelved. Some observers noted that plans for an earlier 2025 tour — including tentative dates suggested by fan sites in cities like Berlin and Lisbon — never materialized either.

Despite the touring news, there is a ray of light for Stones fans: the band is reportedly finishing a new studio album, their second collaboration with producer Andrew Watt, who worked on Hackney Diamonds. Band members have spoken about the album’s progress and hinted at its release in 2026.

That record could serve as a creative bridge to the band’s next stage — whether that eventually includes select concert dates, festival appearances, or something entirely different from the traditional, long‑haul stadium tours of decades past.

In the end, what this cancellation highlights is the challenge of balancing a legendary career with the realities of aging rock icons. For a band that has defined the rock and roll era for more than six decades, the decision feels both poignant and pragmatic: keep the spirit of the Stones alive, but do it in ways that respect the health and wellbeing of its members.

And while the 2026 tour won’t be happening as once hoped, the story isn’t finished — it’s simply evolving.

Sources:

• Vulture
• Guitar World
• SF Chronicle
• NME
• Rolling Stone