The Rolling Stones axe plans for 2026 UK and European stadium tour as Keith Richards couldn’t “commit”

The Rolling Stones have scrapped plans to head out on a UK and European stadium tour in 2026, due to Keith Richards being unable to “commit” to it.

• READ MORE: The Rolling Stones – ‘Hackney Diamonds’ review: they’ve still got it

The live shows were heavily hinted at in recent months, with pianist Chuck Leavell dropping teasers last month, and a spokesperson telling The Sun in June that the band were planning on hitting the road in the UK and Europe as they had nearly finished work on a new album.

If they came to fruition, the gigs would have been the first tour dates from the rock legends since they went out on their ‘Hackney Diamonds’ tour in the US in 2024. They sold nearly a million tickets across those 20 dates and generated an estimated $235million (£185.1million) – making it to Number Six on the highest-grossing music world tours of that year.

Now though, it has been shared that the plans for stadium shows in 2026 have been scrapped due to Keith Richards being unable to commit to the gruelling schedule.

The reports were first shared by The Sun, which reported that an American music critic claimed that the 82-year-old guitarist didn’t feel up to another run of shows.

“The Rolling Stones had all the big promoters throwing loads of ideas and dates at them for next summer,” the critic said. “But when they properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months.”

A spokesperson for The Rolling Stones has confirmed to NME that the reports are true.

Also in the report from The Sun, a spokesperson also commented: “The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either. It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”

As for new music from the band, rumours about them working on new material arose earlier this summer, and then got new momentum in September when producer Andrew Watt revealed that he had been working with the line-up again to help them make another album.

Watt – who is also recognised for his work with Elton John, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran – teamed up with the group on their last album, the Grammy-winning 24th studio LP ‘Hackney Diamonds’ in 2023, their first since the death of Charlie Watts.

Later in September, Ronnie Wood himself confirmed reports that a new record was in the works. Speaking to The Sun‘s Bizarre column, he said: “Yes you will be getting a new album next year. It is done.”

When asked about hopes of him, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards hitting the road again, he replied: “Yes we are hoping to do some dates. Hopefully we will be back out there but I am still waiting to find out myself.”

As well as Watt hinting at a new Rolling Stones record in 2026, rumours were also sparked by Keith Richards’ son, Marlon, who also confirmed that the band had been working on a new album, and described it as being “nearly done”.

The Stones last played the UK in 2022, when two huge BST Hyde Park gigs followed a stadium show at Liverpool’s Anfield.

After completing their latest run of US dates, reports came out that the band had abandoned plans to go on tour in the UK and Europe because of scheduling issues, and it now seems like hopes of a 2026 tour are slim.

In the time since their last live shows, the band have shared a reissue of ‘Black and Blue’ – the record that saw Wood become a permanent member of the band.

The recording sessions for that LP served as auditions following Mick Taylor’s exit, and meant that the album had contributions from the likes of guitar greats Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins, Jeff Beck and Robert A. Johnson. Wood performed on three tracks and later joined as a full-time member.

Ronnie Wood also celebrated 50 years in the line-up by unveiling four new portraits of him and his bandmates.

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