The Strokes confirm Nick Valensi will sit out on 2026 tour dates
The Strokes have confirmed guitarist Nick Valensi will be taking a “temporary break” from touring activities.
The New Yorkers made the announcement on social media hours before they debuted their new single ‘Falling in Love’ on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night (May 14th).
Writing on Instagram Stories, they told fans, “Nick will be taking a temporary break from the scheduled tour, but we look forward to his return.”
No reason was given for Valensi’s absence, nor was a potential timeline for his return given by The Strokes.
However, they did add, “Holding down the guitar in the meantime is our old friend Steve Schlitz, who many of you will remember from our early NY days. We’re lucky to have him.”
Schiltz recently filled in for Valensi for The Strokes’ warm-up shows in San Francisco ahead of Coachella in the guitarist’s absence, who did return for their appearances at the Californian festival.
At the time, The Strokes simply said that Valensi was “unable to join us” in San Francisco.
It looks to be a busy year ahead for The Strokes as they prepare to release their first album in six years, Reality Awaits, on June 26th. Then, they will be hitting the road in June, beginning their world tour in North America.
In October, they will kick off the European leg at The O2 in London, which will be followed by dates in Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Bologna, Barcelona, Paris, Newcastle, Manchester, and Dublin.
They are also bringing some pretty special guests along for the ride, too, with support coming from Thundercat, Cage the Elephant, Hamilton Leithauser, Fat White Family, Alex Cameron, and ÖLÜM across select dates.
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