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Brian May told The Times he decided about 18 months ago that he did not want to tour again, citing the demands on his time and family life. Queen have not played live with Adam Lambert since February 2024, but May said he and Roger Taylor are still interested in developing an immersive production; its format and future remain uncertain.
Queen guitarist Brian May says he decided about 18 months ago that he did not want to tour again, citing the loss of personal freedom and time away from his family. In an interview with The Times, May described the decision as ending his own appetite for extended touring, while also saying he and drummer Roger Taylor remain interested in a possible immersive Queen production.
May said the turning point came while Queen were touring in the United States, when a close family friend died. He recalled asking his tour manager whether he could return home for a few days and then rejoin the tour. According to May, she told him that was not possible. The experience made the practical limits of touring clear to him.
“I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn’t want to tour again,” May told The Times. He added that he still loves playing and travelling, but said touring requires sacrificing freedom. May cited his wife, grandchildren and his interest in astrophysics as reasons to spend less time on the road, adding that “maybe 50 years is enough.”
The comments represent a firmer statement than May made earlier in 2026, when he ruled out Queen shows in the United States but left open the prospect of performances elsewhere. Queen + Adam Lambert have not performed together since the final show of their Rhapsody Tour in Tokyo in February 2024. May’s remarks do not announce a new touring schedule or establish that every possible live appearance is ruled out.
Queen’s Future Beyond the Road
May’s comments provide a clearer indication that extended touring is not part of his plans, a consequential change for fans who have followed Queen’s live performances with Adam Lambert. The group’s last show together was in 2024, and May’s earlier remarks had left some room for performances outside the United States. His new statement narrows that expectation, though it does not amount to a formal announcement covering every member or possible appearance.
At the same time, May pointed to a different kind of live project. He said he and Taylor are interested in creating something “fairly revolutionary,” drawing inspiration in part from the immersive venue Sphere in Las Vegas. If developed, such a production could offer audiences a way to experience Queen’s music without the band undertaking a conventional tour. For now, it is an idea under consideration, not a confirmed show or production.
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From Rhapsody to a New Format
Queen + Adam Lambert’s Rhapsody Tour concluded with a performance in Tokyo in February 2024. The band has not played together since that show, according to the source report. Earlier in 2026, May said Queen would not perform in the United States, while leaving open the possibility of playing elsewhere.
May’s latest remarks address the personal demands behind his position and also describe a potential alternative to touring. He said a visit to Sphere prompted him to sketch out a Queen production. He distinguished the idea from ABBA’s digital-avatar concerts, while describing the proposed experience as immersive. The concept remains subject to May’s concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in making it.
““I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn’t want to tour again.””
— Brian May, speaking to The Times
Immersive Show Still Unsettled
May did not provide a date, venue, production plan or confirmation that the proposed immersive Queen experience will go ahead. He said his concerns about artificial intelligence complicate the project, but did not specify which parts would rely on AI or how those concerns might be addressed.
It is also not clear whether May’s decision rules out every future performance, or specifically extended tours. His remarks concern his own willingness to tour; the source report does not describe a separate formal announcement from Queen or from the other members. No replacement touring plans or upcoming dates were reported.
Awaiting a Production Decision
The next concrete development would be an announcement from May, Taylor or Queen about whether the immersive concept is moving into production. Until details such as a format, venue, schedule and the use of AI are clarified, the project should be treated as an idea rather than a confirmed alternative to touring.
Fans should also distinguish May’s stated decision from a band-wide schedule announcement: the report gives no dates for future Queen performances and does not say that every kind of live appearance has been cancelled. For now, May’s comments indicate that he does not want to return to extended touring, while the possibility of a separate Queen experience remains open.
Key Questions
Has Brian May said Queen will never perform live again?
No. May said he decided he did not want to tour again. His comments do not establish that every possible live appearance is ruled out.
When did Queen + Adam Lambert last perform together?
Their last reported performance together was the final show of the Rhapsody Tour in Tokyo in February 2024.
Why did May decide to stop touring?
May described being unable to leave a United States tour to return home after a close family friend died. He said touring meant sacrificing freedom and cited time with his wife and grandchildren, along with his astrophysics interests.
Is an immersive Queen show confirmed?
No. May said he and Roger Taylor are interested in developing an immersive production, but no venue, date or plan has been announced. May also said concerns about AI complicate the idea.
Source: rss
