Is Queen Done Touring? Brian May Says He Never Said That

Is Queen done touring? Not so fast. In early October, headlines around the world announced that Queen would never tour again. Within days, Brian May took to Instagram to say that’s not what he said. Here’s what he actually said, what Roger Taylor thinks, and the very Queen-sized idea that could come next.

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What Brian May told The Times

In an interview with The Times, May said he decided about 18 months ago that he didn’t want to tour again, after a family friend died while the band was on the road in the U.S. He talked about wanting time with his wife and grandchildren and for his work in astrophysics, and he suggested that after five decades, maybe 50 years is enough. It was easy to read that as a retirement announcement, and plenty of outlets did.

The clarification: a break, not a goodbye

On October 6, May posted on Instagram that his words had been misinterpreted. “I have actually never said QUEEN won’t ever tour again,” he wrote. He explained that he made a personal decision last year to take a break from touring, and that he and Roger Taylor are still working on Queen projects behind the scenes. He also said he’s open to new adventures, which is about as far from “never” as a 79-year-old guitar god with a doctorate in astrophysics is likely to get.

Roger Taylor keeps the door open

Taylor has been saying much the same thing all year. On BBC Radio 2 in July, he said the decision rests more with May than with him, that he loves playing live and would happily go out again. He has also said Queen won’t stage an official farewell tour. Adam Lambert, who has fronted Queen + Adam Lambert since 2012, told Smooth Radio in June there was nothing on the books and that Brian and Roger are the boss.

The Sphere idea

The most intriguing part of May’s interview was what Queen might do instead of a traditional tour. After visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas, home of the Eagles’ record-setting residency, he sketched out an immersive Queen show and said he wants Queen’s next move to break new ground. He also voiced serious doubts about the AI and data centers such a production would rely on, so don’t book flights just yet.

When did Queen last tour?

Queen + Adam Lambert’s Rhapsody Tour ran from July 2019 to February 14, 2024, when it closed at the Tokyo Dome after 109 shows. That was the last full Queen + Adam Lambert tour, more than two and a half years ago.

Meanwhile, in the vaults

The archive work hasn’t stopped. A new Queen II Collector’s Edition, with a fresh 2026 mix, session takes, BBC recordings and live tracks from the Rainbow and Hammersmith Odeon, arrived in March, following the Queen I box in 2024. May has hinted there are still a couple of things fans haven’t heard.

Our take

Queen has never been a band that does things the ordinary way, so it makes sense that their next chapter might not look like a tour at all. Until then, “Under Pressure” with David Bowie is sitting near the top of our Classic Rock chart, and we’re more than happy to keep the hits coming.

Get our station picks and deep cuts on the Queen artist page, vote on the Rock Charts, or request your favorite Queen song.

Sources: Ultimate Classic Rock, Blabbermouth, Loudwire, The Rhapsody Tour, Queen II Collector’s Edition.