It is early 2026, and the rock world is currently reeling from a bit of a gut punch. For months, rumors swirled about a massive UK and European stadium trek. Promoters were salivating. Fans were dusting off their vintage 1972 tour tees. But then, the news broke: Mick Jagger and the Stones officially pulled the plug on their 2026 tour plans.
The culprit? Honestly, it’s the one thing even rock gods can’t outrun forever. Keith Richards, who hit 82 this past December, reportedly hit a wall with a brutal case of arthritis. Sources close to the camp say he just couldn't commit to another four-month grind across the continent. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for a band that has basically spent sixty years pretending mortality is a suggestion rather than a rule.
But don't go mourning them just yet.
While the tour is on ice, the music isn't. Ronnie Wood has been pretty vocal lately, confirming that the follow-up to Hackney Diamonds is already "done." They’ve been back in the studio with producer Andrew Watt, laying down at least 13 new tracks. So, while we might not see Mick sprinting across a stage in Berlin this summer, we’re almost certainly getting a new record.
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The Business of Being the World's Greatest Rock Band
Most people look at the Rolling Stones and see a band. Mick Jagger sees a multinational corporation. He’s often called himself a "Dionysian businessman," and he’s not joking. Back in the early 70s, after getting burned by messy contracts and losing the rights to their early hits (everything before 1971), Jagger took the reins.
He didn't just hire accountants; he basically invented the modern stadium tour business model.
They were the first to treat a rock tour like a military operation. They centralized booking to cut out middleman promoters. They turned a simple drawing of a tongue and lips into a global brand that rivals Coca-Cola. It’s why, even when they aren't touring, the "Stones" machine keeps humming. They’ve got their flagship shop, RS No. 9, on Carnaby Street, and a constant stream of high-end reissues, like the recent Black and Blue super deluxe set that just dropped.
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How Mick Jagger Still Outruns Everyone at 82
If you saw the Hackney Diamonds tour in 2024, you saw something that shouldn't be biologically possible. Mick Jagger, an octogenarian, covering roughly 12 kilometers of stage per show. No cane. No sitting down for acoustic sets. Just pure, terrifying energy.
How? It’s not a "pact with the devil," despite what the tabloids like to say. It’s actually a incredibly disciplined, borderline boring regimen.
- The Workout: He trains six days a week with Norwegian trainer Torje Eike. It’s a mix of kickboxing, vinyasa yoga, and—this is the wild part—sprints. He actually does interval training to mimic the bursts of energy needed for a two-hour show.
- The Diet: He’s basically a high-performance athlete. Think avocados, whole grains, and lots of cod liver oil. He famously avoids refined sugars after 6:00 p.m.
- The Mindset: Jagger’s father was a physical education teacher. Discipline is in his DNA. While Keith Richards was living the "pirate" lifestyle, Mick was often the one checking the spreadsheets and doing his stretches.
There’s a hilarious bit of tension there, too. Keith once famously mocked Mick’s solo album, Goddess in the Doorway, comparing it to Mein Kampf—meaning "everyone had it, but no one read it." They call each other "Brenda" and "Gladys." It’s a sixty-year marriage held together by equal parts love, shared history, and the realization that they are both much more powerful together than apart.
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What Really Happened with the 2026 Tour?
The cancellation of the 2026 dates has sparked a lot of "is this the end?" think pieces. Usually, I’d say yes. But with this band, you never know.
Keith’s refusal to commit to a stadium tour doesn't mean the Stones are retired. It likely means the era of the "four-month global jaunt" is transitioning into something else. Maybe a residency? Maybe one-off festival slots? They’ve always been masters of the pivot.
Remember, they lost Charlie Watts in 2021. Most bands would have folded. Instead, they brought in Steve Jordan, a drummer who honors Charlie's "behind the beat" swing while adding a bit more punch for the stadium era. They didn't just survive; they thrived. Hackney Diamonds was their best-reviewed album in forty years.
What You Can Actually Do Now
If you’re a fan feeling the sting of the canceled tour, here is how to navigate the Stones landscape in 2026:
- Watch the Vinyl Markets: The upcoming 2026 studio album is rumored to be their last "big" statement. Given the band’s focus on sound quality lately, the vinyl pressings are usually the way to go to avoid the "loudness war" compression on digital versions.
- Keep an Eye on Small Venues: Historically, when a big tour gets scrapped, the Stones have been known to pop up for "secret" club shows or smaller, controlled events to keep their chops up.
- Explore the Back Catalog Reissues: The Black and Blue 2025 reissue features unreleased jams that are actually worth your time. It’s not just filler; it’s a look at the "guitar weave" between Keith and Ronnie when they were first finding their rhythm.
The Rolling Stones have been "retiring" since 1982. They’ve outlived their peers, their critics, and even some of their own fans. While the 2026 tour hiatus feels heavy, the fact that there's a finished album sitting in a vault means the story isn't over. Not by a long shot.