Keith Richards has put the brakes on speculation about a Rolling Stones tour this year. In a new interview tied to the band’s fresh album rollout, the guitarist said the Stones will not be on the road in 2026, though he left the door open for 2027 by saying, “We can talk next year,” and adding that, for now, it is “not this year anyway.”
The comment arrives just as The Rolling Stones begin the next chapter of their career with a new album, Foreign Tongues, which was officially introduced at a launch event in New York on May 5, 2026. The band confirmed that the album will be released on July 10 and that the first single, “In The Stars,” is already out.
At the Brooklyn event, Mick Jagger, Richards, and Ronnie Wood appeared together before a crowd that included celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, and comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the announcement. The band used the occasion to walk fans through the project and its release plans, but there was still no tour announcement to go with it.
Jagger said the group did not want to stay locked into one sound, explaining that the Stones are a rock band with the ability to move between ballads, country, and dance music. He also told AP that he would love to tour behind the album and hoped to do so as soon as possible.
Richards, meanwhile, emphasized the creative energy in the studio. At the New York event, he said producer Andrew Watt acts like a referee when the band gets stuck, and he described the process of building songs as something you cannot fully plan in advance. Ronnie Wood added that the interplay between the guitarists is “an ancient form of weaving.”
The album itself was recorded in London over the course of about a month and includes contributions from Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, Robert Smith of the Cure, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also features a posthumous appearance from Charlie Watts on one track, continuing the band’s connection to their late drummer.
For now, though, Richards’ message is clear: fans should not expect a Rolling Stones tour in 2026. The album is coming, the band is active, and Jagger is clearly eager to perform it live — but the road appears to be waiting until at least next year.
