Iron Maiden have officially confirmed the next leg of their Run For Your Lives 50th anniversary tour, with fresh dates set for summer 2026. The band will return to Europe beginning in late May, bringing their celebrated setlist — filled with songs from their first nine albums — to fans across stadiums, arenas, and major festivals. The run will conclude on July 11 with a special headline show in the United Kingdom, the details of which are being kept under wraps for now.
The announcement follows the overwhelmingly successful first leg of the tour earlier this year, which drew more than a million fans across Europe and the UK. Bassist Steve Harris reflected on the impact of the shows, describing the fan reception as “incredible” and praising the setlist as one of their strongest ever. Harris also confirmed that drummer Simon Dawson will continue behind the kit for this leg, thanking fans for the warm welcome he received during his debut run with the band.
Festival appearances are a major highlight of the 2026 schedule, with Iron Maiden eager to perform in front of both loyal fans and new audiences. Harris explained that the band thrives on the challenge of festival crowds, while also pointing out that they will finally return to stadiums in Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Bulgaria — countries they missed earlier in the tour but where they’ve always been embraced by passionate fans.
Manager Rod Smallwood expanded on the importance of these dates, noting that festivals have played a defining role in Maiden’s five-decade career, from Rock in Rio in 1985 to today’s premier European metal gatherings. He also revealed that the band will break new ground by becoming the first-ever metal act to perform at Milan’s legendary San Siro Stadium. In addition, Iron Maiden will play Paris La Défense Arena once more after two sold-out nights this year, where they plan to film a special show for release. To preserve the atmosphere on film, Paris will also mark the band’s first partnership with Yondr to create a phone-free floor section.
As anticipation builds, the band hinted at even more global announcements to come. Fans outside Europe can expect additional tour news later in 2026, before Iron Maiden take a well-earned break in 2027. With over fifty years of history behind them and no shortage of new milestones ahead, the Run For Your Lives tour continues to prove that Maiden’s fire still burns as brightly as ever.
Iron Maiden 2026 Tour Dates:
- May 23 – Athens, Greece @ Oaka
- May 26 – Sofia, Bulgaria @ Vasil Levski Stadium
- May 28 – Bucharest, Romania @ Arena Națională
- May 30 – Bratislava, Slovakia @ Národný Futbalový Štadión
- June 2 – Hannover, Germany @ Heinz Von Heiden Arena
- June 10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
- June 17 – Milan, Italy @ San Siro Stadium
- June 22 – Paris, France @ Paris La Défense Arena
- June 28 – Lyon-Décines, France @ Groupama Stadium
- July 7 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Estádio da Luz
- July 11 – UK Headline Show (details to be revealed)
