As The Rolling Stones gear up for Foreign Tongues, Keith Richards has poured cold water on a possible tour in 2026—saying he’s not sure the band can manage the traveling. He still hints at live shows in a different format, including the idea of a residency.
The idea of a Rolling Stones tour in 2026 is starting to feel less certain—at least through Keith Richards’ eyes.
Mick Jagger. speaking during a recent appearance on the BBC Radio 2 program Tracks of My Years. said he “can’t wait” to go back out on tour with The Rolling Stones again. But Richards, during early press for the band’s upcoming album Foreign Tongues, pushed back on the 2026 tour idea. In a new interview. the 82-year-old guitarist went further: “I don’t know if tours are possible. ” he told Uncut magazine.
For Richards, it isn’t about enthusiasm. It’s about the cost of being on the move. “It’s the traveling that takes it out of you,” he said.
Still, he didn’t shut the door on live music completely. “But I do see the possibility of us doing [a] residency somewhere,” he added. His pitch is flexible—“Wherever it is, London, New York, Paris, anywhere. I’ll play Rome!”—and he said he doesn’t see why the band can’t “throw some shows together in a new format.”.
After more than 60 years in the music business, Richards also sounded grounded about what keeps him going with the band. “Yeah, it’ll be exciting until something inside me says, ‘That’s that,’” he said. He described his affection for working with the guys in plain terms: “I love working with the guys. I mean, what am I gonna do?”.
He framed band work as something he views as essential—“It’s necessary for me – at gunpoint, if needs be – to keep a band together. ‘You will play drums!’ I do my bit, but it’s an incredible gift from everybody else. I didn’t expect this in return.”
Richards also admitted the bigger picture still surprises him. “It’s still a bit mind boggling, even at this age.”
The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues will be released July 10.
In the space between Jagger’s excitement about touring and Richards’ doubts about the road, the band’s next live chapter is shaping up around a question that fans will recognize immediately: not whether the Stones can perform, but what kind of performance—and what kind of pace—the band can sustain.
The Rolling Stones Keith Richards Mick Jagger Foreign Tongues 2026 tour residency live shows Uncut magazine BBC Radio 2 Tracks of My Years
So he’s saying they can’t tour in 2026? Sounds like excuses tbh.
I saw Mick on the BBC like “can’t wait” and then Keith is like nah. Like ok who’s driving this bus. Also residency in London/New York… that’s basically touring, just shorter flights? Idk.
Keith Richards is 82 and talking about “traveling takes it out of you” which… fair. But I swear I read somewhere last year they already cancelled a tour because of health stuff? Maybe this is just PR for a smaller “residency” thing. Either way I’m just hoping they come to my city, like Rome or wherever.
They should do like a stadium residency where they play the same set forever lol. But on the real, “at gunpoint” to keep a band together made me laugh, like who is threatening who. Also Foreign Tongues drops July 10 right? So maybe the 2026 tour depends on album sales or something. I don’t really care what format as long as Mick shows up and doesn’t do another “sitting” tour version.