Mick Jagger has said he “can’t wait” to take The Rolling Stones back on the road, though fans shouldn’t expect an imminent announcement.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2’s Tracks of My Years alongside Ronnie Wood, Jagger was asked whether the Stones would ever tour again. “I’d love to go on tour, I can’t wait,” he said, before tempering expectations. “I don’t think it’s going to be this year. But hopefully it’s going to be as soon as possible.”
The comments come after the band scrapped plans for a U.K. and European stadium tour in 2026 in late 2025, with reports that Keith Richards was unable to “commit” to the run. Richards has since hinted at a potential return to the road in 2027, and Jagger’s latest remarks add weight to that possibility.
The interview arrives ahead of the band’s 25th studio album Foreign Tongues, due July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. The record was made in less than a month at Metropolis Studios in West London with producer Andrew Watt — who also helmed 2024’s Hackney Diamonds — and features guest appearances from Paul McCartney, The Cure‘s Robert Smith, Steve Winwood and the late Charlie Watts.
Jagger revealed the Robert Smith collaboration came about by chance at an industry event. “He was standing there with his back to me and this long gown on and when he turned around, he was covered in lipstick,” Jagger said. “And I said, ‘You’re Robert Smith of The Cure.’ He said, ‘Yeah, we’ve never met.’ And I said, ‘While you’re here, you better go and do something.’ That’s how collaborations work sometimes.”
McCartney, who also appeared on Hackney Diamonds, spoke to NME about his contribution, calling it “really exciting.” “It was really nice to just show up at a studio with your bass and just say, ‘Right, where do you want me?’” he said. “You start playing, and they show you the song, and I start thinking, ‘I’m playing with the Stones!’”
Foreign Tongues includes previously released tracks “Rough and Twisted” and “In the Stars,” as well as a cover of the late Amy Winehouse‘s “You Know I’m No Good.” The full tracklist was revealed earlier this month with song titles appearing on streaming devices listed in various foreign languages.
Hackney Diamonds debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2024 — the band’s highest chart position in the U.S. since Voodoo Lounge reached No. 2 in 1994.
