THE APEX TIMES
Keith Richards Says The Rolling Stones May Be Done With Traditional Touring Ahead of New Album
In remarks reported by Billboard, guitarist Keith Richards suggested the Rolling Stones could move away from large, traditional concert touring as the band prepares to release its 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, on July 10.
The Rolling Stones may be moving away from their usual model of large-scale, traditional touring, according to comments from guitarist Keith Richards reported by Billboard on June 23, 2026. Richards’ remarks point to the possibility that the band’s live schedule could change as it prepares new recorded music for fans.
Billboard reported that the band is preparing to release Foreign Tongues, its 25th studio album. The publication said the album is set for release on July 10, with distribution through Polydor and Universal Music.
Richards’ comments, as summarized by Billboard, frame the band’s next phase as uncertain in terms of future concert patterns. While the remarks stop short of announcing a formal end to live performance, they raise the prospect of the Stones altering the scope or format of touring in the near term.
The album timing places the band’s recorded output and potential live activity in close proximity. With Foreign Tongues due on July 10, any changes to touring strategy would likely be shaped by how the new material is rolled out to audiences, including how promoters, venues, and production teams plan for large events.
Polydor and Universal Music are named by Billboard as the album’s release channels. That matters for scheduling and distribution, since release partners typically coordinate marketing timelines, physical and digital rollouts, and rights administration tied to promotion, including any potential live performances supporting an album cycle.
Traditional stadium-and-arena touring is often a multi-month undertaking that involves significant operational commitments, including security planning, transportation logistics, staging and staffing, and crowd management. Richards’ suggestion that the band could be done with that touring model indicates a shift that could affect how quickly production teams can reconfigure itineraries around the band’s longer-term plans.
No additional details were provided in the Billboard report about whether the Stones would instead pursue smaller-format shows, residency-style events, selective festival appearances, or other non-touring approaches. As reported, the immediate, concrete item for fans remains the July 10 release of Foreign Tongues.
The next confirmed milestone is the album itself. After July 10, the band’s public schedule, release-partner promotions, and venue announcements would provide the clearest indication of how Richards’ comments translate into practical changes for the band’s live calendar.
Why It Matters
- A potential shift away from traditional touring could change how venues, promoters, and production teams schedule major events around the band.
- The July 10 album release sets a near-term timeline for how the Stones’ live strategy may evolve during the album cycle.
- Large tours have extensive public safety and crowd-management requirements, so changes in touring format can affect planning for security and local logistics.
- For the music industry, release-partner coordination tied to marketing and distribution may also adjust if live touring is scaled back or reformatted.
Sources
Key Facts
- Billboard reported that Keith Richards said the Rolling Stones may be done with traditional touring.
- Billboard reported the Stones are preparing to release their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues.
- Foreign Tongues is scheduled for release on July 10, 2026.
- Billboard said the album will be released through Polydor and Universal Music.
- The June 23, 2026 report did not provide a specific replacement touring plan or a formal announcement ending live performances.