As part of recent negotiations over summer concerts, Keith Richards made it clear to his colleagues in the Rolling Stones that he could neither commit to an extensive tour nor show any interest in headlining a new round of concerts that would last longer than four months. This direct communication led to plans for a large-stadium European tour for the summer of 2026 being suspended, as reported by Variety and The Sun. The decision, largely attributed to the guitarist’s health, concerns both fans and promoters who had proposed various alternatives to organize presentations of the legendary British band in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe.
The Variety media explained in detail that the last meeting to evaluate the group’s concert agenda took place under pressure from various international promoters interested in final dates for the summer of 2026. According to close sources cited by both media outlets, Richards, who recently turned 82, was aware that his options for playing on a long-distance tour were limited and that he was not prepared to face a marathon of performances in huge venues. The Sun gathered testimony that reflected Richards’ thoughts: “Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and that he hadn’t been keen on a major stadium tour for more than four months.”
According to Variety, Richard’s health has been the focus of the band’s logistical considerations in recent years. The British guitarist, who has been diagnosed with arthritis, has stated in previous interviews that he suffers from a mild form of the disease, although its development has brought noticeable changes in his technique. According to The Sun, Richards has spent time changing his performance style to adapt to the physical demands of each concert, which affects his willingness for engagements that require great endurance or notable concert extensions.
Variety recalled that the Rolling Stones maintained a regular touring dynamic starting in 2000, although this frequency progressively declined due to the age of the founding members. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both 82 years old, together with Ron Wood, 78, currently form the core of the group. The death of Charlie Watts in 2021 marked another turning point: Steve Jordan took over drums and this transition also influenced the planning of future tours.
The most recent tour under the name Hackney Diamonds performed twenty shows in cities across North America over a period of approximately three months. Variety explained that this reduced activity format responded to the group’s adaptation to new circumstances, prioritizing less demanding routes and adjusted daily schedules to preserve physical well-being and internal dynamism. The group’s last presentation in Spain took place on June 2, 2022 at the stadium then known as Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, now Riyadh Air Metropolitano. After this concert and after learning of the cancellation of the next European series, doubts about the band’s possible return to the continent’s stages increased.
According to both media outlets, the decision not to undertake the European tour reflects both Richards’ personal health situation and an internal policy aimed at avoiding the intense concert marathons that characterized previous legs. Sources close to the group and organizers stated in Variety and The Sun that other presentation modalities are currently being considered for the future, although neither dates nor formats have been defined. The expectations of fans in the UK and other European countries remain pending official news, as there is a possibility of seeing The Rolling Stones on stage again soon.
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