For decades, the United States has been woven into Queen’s touring DNA. From the arena-conquering years of the 1970s to the modern stadium era with Adam Lambert, America has always been the proving ground — the place where Queen didn’t just perform, but confirmed their status as global giants. But in 2026, that bond suddenly feels strained.
In a striking new interview with The Daily Mail, guitarist Brian May suggested Queen’s return to U.S. stages is no longer guaranteed anytime soon. Pointing to growing safety concerns and a wider sense of unrest, May admitted the band is now hesitating. “America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,” he said, referencing recent events that have intensified his worries. “It’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.”
The statement lands even heavier because it represents a clear shift from May’s mindset just a year earlier. In 2025, while marking the 50th anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody, he sounded energized about the future — even flirting with the idea of a groundbreaking Las Vegas residency at the Sphere. “I’m very keen on the Sphere,” May said at the time. “I sat there watching the Eagles, thinking, ‘We should do this. The stuff that we could bring to this would be stupendous.’ We’re having conversations.”
Now, those conversations appear to have slowed — or stopped entirely.
Queen + Adam Lambert last toured the United States in November 2023, later closing their global run at the Tokyo Dome in February 2024. Since then, the band’s next move has remained unclear. May’s health also became a talking point after he suffered a minor stroke in 2024, though he later returned to performing — including a high-profile appearance at Coachella alongside Benson Boone, a moment that reassured fans his signature guitar intensity hasn’t faded.
Beyond health and logistics, Queen’s relationship with the U.S. has also been complicated by politics. The band has repeatedly pushed back against the use of their anthems at American political events, with representatives previously acknowledging it’s often an “uphill battle” to prevent it. In the UK, May has also made it clear he would never headline Glastonbury, citing concerns over animal welfare on Worthy Farm and discomfort with the festival’s politics.
Even with all that, May hasn’t declared Queen finished as a live act.
“Never say never about not coming back,” he said. “There are a couple of things you haven’t heard… I don’t know when Queen will be back on stage — it’s an unknown. We’ll take it day by day.”
For now, the pause feels louder than any announcement. A band that once helped define arena rock in America is stepping back — not because the demand disappeared, but because the world outside the spotlight no longer feels stable enough to trust.
