Laurent Garnier Shares Plans to “Stop Touring Like I Always Have”

In an interview, Laurent Garnier shared plans to significantly reduce how many gigs he accepts in 2026.

How old is too old to DJ? Calvin Harris seems to think it’s 50, but Laurent Garnier is still touring at just shy of a decade older. That may not be the case much longer, however — at least, not at his current level.

Garnier, who is arguably France’s most famous techno artist, told Grégoire Nicolet of France Inter Radio that he doesn’t see himself having a career as a performer that extends very late into his life a la the Rolling Stones. He said, “I’ve always said to everyone I work with that they should warn me, the day I go to the other side of the mountain, where I become a kind of dusty jukebox and play on cruises, I don’t want that.”

Garnier is thus planning to significantly reduce the number of gigs he accepts next year. “I’m going to stop touring like I always have,” he said. “I’ll still do a few dates, but the idea is to do ten in the year, and in small places where I still have my place and little things to say, but finding myself in front of big crowds, no. I haven’t done big festivals since this year.”

Laurent Garnier’s roots in dance music extend all the way back to 1986 at seminal Manchester club The Haçienda. He also spent time in New York City’s nightlife community, but the ’90s ultimately saw him focus on building the scene back home in France. He is the first DJ to win a Victoire de la Musique award and sell out the Olympia, among numerous other accolades.

Following his upcoming shift away from frequent touring, it remains to be seen how long Garnier will continue to accept even occasional gigs.