The economics of rock immortality just hit a wall named arthritis. Keith Richards has effectively put a stop to The Rolling Stones‘ planned 2026 UK and European stadium tour, reportedly telling bandmates he couldn’t commit to another grueling four-month stadium circuit, according to multiple reports from industry sources.
The decision scraps what promoters were actively planning as a major stadium run across Europe and the UK—though the tour was never formally announced. Picture a major film sequel getting shelved in pre-production while fans still expect opening night.
The Reality Check
Age and arthritis force rock’s most resilient guitarist to face physical limitations.
Richards, now 82, has been managing arthritis that’s forced him to adapt his legendary playing style. While he can still deliver—his recent three-song appearance at New York’s Soho Sessions proved that—the prospect of months-long stadium marathons represents a different beast entirely.
The band’s 2024 ‘Hackney Diamonds’ North American tour offers a stark comparison: 20 dates over three months that grossed an estimated $235 million, landing it sixth among the year’s highest-grossing world tours. The financial opportunity cost of shelving a European leg is staggering, but apparently not worth risking Richards’ health.
Studio Over Stage
New album completion offers fans consolation as touring plans crumble.
For fans, the consolation comes in album form. Guitarist Ronnie Wood confirmed to The Sun that their follow-up to 2023’s Grammy-winning Hackney Diamonds is “done,” with producer Andrew Watt again at the helm. The new material represents the band’s second studio collaboration with Watt, marking an unexpected creative renaissance for the world’s most durable rock band.
“The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either,” a Stones spokesperson explained. “It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”
That last phrase carries weight. The Stones haven’t played the UK since their 2022 Hyde Park shows, making British fans particularly hungry for a homecoming. But touring pianist Chuck Leavell’s earlier hints about 2026 European dates—where he suggested “they don’t want to hang up the rock ‘n’ roll shoes yet”—now feel more like wishful thinking than inside intelligence.
The message seems clear: expect more strategic, shorter live appearances rather than the stadium-conquering marathons that built their touring empire. Based on Richards’ recent three-song New York performance and the band’s preference for selective appearances, future shows will likely follow this abbreviated format. Sometimes wisdom trumps the almighty dollar, even in rock and roll.
