Rihanna ready to shake the world with shock music return and UK stadium takeover

Barbadian singer Rihanna is reportedly preparing to make a long-awaited return to music, with plans said to be in place for a major comeback announcement and a run of UK stadium concerts.

The global superstar, now 37, has not released a studio album since Anti in 2016, but sources claim she has quietly been lining up a new tour since August. Reports suggest the announcement could come very soon, marking the end of nearly a decade away from the touring circuit.

According to The Sun, Rihanna, who welcomed her third child in September, is poised to formally confirm the live shows in the near future. A source said: "Rihanna is raring to go and cannot wait to get back on the road."

The insider explained that plans for large-scale London Stadium concerts last summer were shelved due to her pregnancy, but that delay may have worked to her advantage.

The source added: "She had to cancel her shows planned at the London Stadium last summer because she was expecting her daughter. But the cancellation couldn't have worked more in her favour."

This year carries major symbolic weight for the singer. The same source noted: "This month she will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Anti, which coincides with a decade since she last toured, so it feels massive to her and her team."

The insider went on to say that Rihanna is keen to reclaim the stage and that fans should expect nothing less than huge, high-impact performances, describing the planned shows as "massive."

It has also been claimed that Rihanna quietly pulled the plug on additional concerts last year that were never publicly announced, again due to her pregnancy.

Despite being one of the best-selling artists of all time with more than 250 million records sold worldwide, Rihanna has spent much of the past decade concentrating on building her fashion and beauty empire rather than releasing new music.

The speculation around her next move comes shortly after the singer hinted she may be considering expanding her family again. In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, former Love Island star Montana Brown, 30, shared her playful thoughts about the year ahead.

"Deciding to get hot and sexy or get pregnant in 2026," Montana wrote over a light-hearted clip of herself appearing deep in thought. She shares two children with her fiancé Mark O'Connor.

Rihanna jumped into the comments and replied: "Wait! So I'm not crazy then? Bet!"

The nine-time Grammy winner and her partner A$AP Rocky, also 37, welcomed their third child, a daughter named Rocki, on September 13. They are already parents to two sons, RZA, born in 2022, and Riot, who arrived in 2023.

Fans were quick to flood Rihanna’s comments with pleas for new music instead of baby plans, urging her to finally release the album they have been waiting for since 2016.

They wrote: "Girl the only thing you need to be popping out is that album PLZZZZZZ;
"@badgalriri we vote for hot sexy and album release; @badgalriri Girl you better drop that album; @badgalriri no. We want an album!; Need to be pregnant with an album sis
"@badgalriri not me subtly hoping your only big 2026 decision would be which state you're going to start the tour. You keep growing your team queen, we can wait."

Rihanna is currently balancing motherhood with superstardom, raising sons RZA, three, Riot, two, and her four-month-old daughter Rocki with A$AP Rocky, as anticipation builds over whether her long-rumoured musical comeback is finally about to become reality.