It’s a day of mixed news for Rolling Stones fans, as the band has nixed plans for a 2026 stadium tour of U.K, and Europe but will release its second album with producer Andrew Watt at some point next year, sources confirm to SPIN.
Rumors about the Stones’ return to the road picked up in recent weeks, but the idea was tabled after guitarist Keith Richards, who turns 82 later this week, expressed concerns about the associated physical demands. For whatever it’s worth, he performed three songs with a smile in early November in New York during the Soho Sessions series, where he was backed by current Stones drummer Steve Jordan and guitarist Larry Campbell.
The Stones have played about 20 shows per year since 2013, with the exception of 2020 and 2023. They have not been on stage since wrapping a North American stadium tour in Ridgedale, Mo. For now, it’s unclear if they may still perform next year in some fashion other than as part of a proper tour.
Meanwhile, work on the band’s as-yet-untitled new album with Watt has been underway in London for months, and the project may feature material originally recorded for 2023’s Hackney Diamonds that was left unused at the time.
That album, the Stones’ first of original music since 2005, boasted guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and former Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Hackney Diamonds was rewarded with the Best Rock Album trophy at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
