Iron Maiden prepares massive ‘Run For Your Lives’ world tour with unseen surprises
Iron Maiden, the legendary titans of heavy metal, are gearing up for what might be their most ambitious global tour yet. Dubbed “Run For Your Lives”, the 2025-2026 world tour isn’t just another series of shows—it’s a milestone celebration of 50 years of thunderous riffs, operatic vocals, and epic stagecraft. The announcement came with a promise from frontman Bruce Dickinson that the band will be doing “things they’ve never done before.” A bold claim from a group known for bringing fighter planes and towering Eddies on stage.
In a year already rich in musical comebacks, Iron Maiden’s return hits especially hard. Their 2024 stop in Colombia sent waves through Latin America with a performance that fans and critics alike hailed as one of the best concerts of the year. Now, with 2025 upon us, Maiden devotees across Europe are already preparing for a pilgrimage to some of the continent’s biggest rock cities.
A golden anniversary with new territories and old flames
“Run For Your Lives” will be more than a nostalgic ride. According to Bruce Dickinson, this is a moment to redefine the Iron Maiden experience. In a video farewell to 2024, he shared his excitement about the upcoming tour, emphasizing that it will include territories the band has never visited and a setlist brimming with surprises. That likely means a mix of forgotten deep cuts, refreshed classics, and perhaps even live premieres from their more recent discography.
As La Tercera points out in their retrospective on the band’s influence, Iron Maiden’s staying power lies in their ability to innovate without losing their identity. Whether it’s incorporating orchestral arrangements or blending prog-rock structures into their albums, they continue to push boundaries. And this tour, celebrating half a century on stage, is shaping up to be no different.
While the full global itinerary hasn’t been announced yet, rumors of a 2026 return to Colombia have already stirred excitement. The energy and loyalty of Latin American fans have long made the region a staple in Maiden tours, and the band seems eager to repay that passion with another round of pyrotechnics and power chords.
Full list of 2025 tour dates and cities
For now, here’s the confirmed European leg of the “Run For Your Lives” tour for 2025:
- Budapest, Hungary – May 27 & 28
- Prague, Czech Republic – May 31
- Bratislava, Slovakia – June 1
- Trondheim, Norway – June 5
- Stavanger, Norway – June 7
- Copenhagen, Denmark – June 9
- Stockholm, Sweden – June 12 & 13
- Helsinki, Finland – June 16
- Dessel, Belgium – June 19
- Birmingham, England – June 21
- Manchester, England – June 22
- Malahide, Ireland – June 25
- London, England – June 28
- Glasgow, Scotland – June 30
- Belfort, France – July 3
- Madrid, Spain – July 5
- Lisbon, Portugal – July 6
- Zurich, Switzerland – July 9
- Gelsenkirchen, Germany – July 11
- Padua, Italy – July 13
- Bremen, Germany – July 15
- Vienna, Austria – July 17
- Nanterre, France – July 19 & 20
- Arnhem, Netherlands – July 23
- Frankfurt, Germany – July 25
- Stuttgart, Germany – July 26
- Berlin, Germany – July 29 & 30
- Warsaw, Poland – August 2
This extensive lineup underlines Maiden’s enduring ability to sell out arenas across generations and nations. The choice of multiple dates in key cities like Berlin and London hints at the high demand the band continues to generate even five decades into their career.
What can fans expect from the ‘Run For Your Lives’ experience?
Fans have come to expect a visually overwhelming and musically flawless performance from Iron Maiden, but with Dickinson teasing “things we’ve never done before,” speculation is running wild. Will the band bring augmented reality to the stage? Could we see guest appearances or live collaborations with former members? Perhaps new, unreleased music?
What is certain is Iron Maiden’s obsession with giving their fans more than just a concert. Their tours are narratives brought to life, where each song unfolds like a chapter in an epic saga. As the tour slogan suggests, this is not just about revisiting the past, but sprinting full-throttle into the next era of Iron Maiden.
With early 2026 dates still to be confirmed, fans from regions not yet listed are already calling for their cities to be included. If the excitement building online is any indication, Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary may well become one of the defining tours of the decade. Are you ready to run for your life?
