Brian May Says Queen's Touring Days Are Over: "50 Years Is Enough"

Brian May has said Queen will not tour again, bringing the band’s life on the road to a close after about 50 years. The guitarist revealed the decision on October 5, 2026, explaining that he had reached it 18 months earlier. He reconsidered touring after a close family friend died while Queen was in the United States.

Why Brian May is leaving the road

May said touring requires him to sacrifice his personal freedom, even though he loves playing and traveling. After the family friend’s death, his tour manager told him he could not return home for a few days and then rejoin the tour. The experience made him question whether he could be with his family when they needed him. May now wants to spend more time with his wife, Anita Dobson, and his grandchildren, while also pursuing his astrophysics work. He had also ruled out performing in the United States in January 2026 because he considered the country dangerous under the conditions at that time. Queen + Adam Lambert completed the Rhapsody Tour at Tokyo Dome on February 14, 2024, and have not performed together since.

What it means for guitar players

The decision ends the prospect of seeing May’s guitar work within a conventional Queen tour. His layered harmonies, lead lines, and live use of the Red Special have remained central to the band’s concerts, so future opportunities will take another form. May still wants to play individual shows and find new ways to present Queen’s music. After visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas, he sketched an immersive Queen production that could move beyond the usual limits of time and space. He had also considered a hologram show inspired by ABBA Voyage, but stepped back because the concept would require extensive artificial intelligence. May has serious misgivings about that technology, although he has not ruled out an immersive Queen experience.

(Compiled)