Keith Richards Doubts Rolling Stones Tours at 82, Floats Residency Shows

Q: With Jagger wanting tours and Richards favoring residencies, whose vision will ultimately shape the Stones' final act on stage?

Keith Richards’ view is more likely to shape the Stones’ final stage chapter, even if Mick Jagger remains the stronger advocate for touring. The clearest reason is practical: Richards has explicitly said traditional touring may no longer be possible because “it’s the travelling that takes it out of you,” and he has ruled out a 2026 tour. Reports that planned UK and European runs for 2025 and 2026 were shelved reinforce that his concerns are not theoretical; they are already affecting the band’s live plans. At 82, and with the physical wear of decades on the road, Richards appears to be setting the outer limits of what the band can realistically do. Jagger’s position is different. He has said he would “absolutely” love to tour and hopes to return to the road in 2027, but he has also acknowledged that timing has to work for everyone. That caveat matters. In a band this established, the final decision is less about preference than about what all key members can physically sustain. Industry trends also favor Richards’ model. Residencies in cities such as London, New York, Paris or Rome would reduce travel, allow better recovery, and still deliver premium live events for fans. For legacy acts, that format has become a credible alternative to full-scale stadium touring. So while Jagger may still push for selected road dates, the most plausible outcome is a limited residency-style run or short, carefully spaced engagements rather than a traditional global tour.

3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 22

Richards, 82, said future Rolling Stones tours may no longer be feasible because travel is exhausting, but he still sees the band staging residency-style runs in cities such as London, New York or Paris.
The shift would keep the Stones active around their new 14-track album, Foreign Tongues, due July 10, with Richards saying he remains eager to work with the band until he feels he cannot continue.
Touring plans have already looked uncertain: the Stones last hit the road in 2024, and a proposed 2025 U.K. and European stadium run was later shelved after reports Richards would not commit.
Jagger has struck a more enthusiastic note, recently saying he would "absolutely" love to tour again, while the band also rolls out a six-part album podcast starting June 25 and a third single on June 26.