The band will perform at Nova Rock, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, and more next year
Next year is going to be huge for Iron Maiden. The band launched their massive Run For Your Lives World Tour to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary earlier this year, trekking throughout Europe and the UK. The tour is slated to continue, with more dates around the globe set to announce in the near future. Now, though, Iron Maiden have confirmed a string of festival headlining performances, plus their own gig at Knebworth. The group is set to headline Tons of Rock (Norway), Resurrection Fest (Spain), Nova Rock (Austria), and Rock Imperium (Colombia).
Check out the full lineups below.
While the full lineup hasn’t been revealed yet, Iron Maiden are confirmed to be headlining Copenhell in Denmark next year as well.
Bruce Dickinson recently embarked on a North American solo tour. The Iron Maiden frontman is supporting his latest album, The Mandrake Project. The trek began back on August 22 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. Over Labor Day Weekend, Dickinson and his band played a featured set at Rocklahoma (Oklahoma) and Louder Than Life (Kentucky) last weekend. In the midst of launching a tour, Bruce found time to lend his pipes to another gig – the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner.
On September 13, Bruce and his band played a headlining gig at Stage AE in Pittsburgh. On September 14 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the legendary frontman brought some more metal to the Steel City when he sang the National Anthem before the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium. The British singer belted out the National Anthem like he’s been belting out metal hits for more than five decades.
“We are thrilled to be able to take The Mandrake Project out for a proper tour of North America,” Bruce said when the tour was announced. “Last year we did a couple of sold-out U.S. West Coast dates before heading to South America and the response was just incredible. This time we will add ‘Shadow of The Gods’ to the setlist for this incredible band to perform plus a few other gems so we are really looking forward to seeing our fans again all over the country and for a couple of shows up in Canada.”
Joining Dickinson on the road is guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bassist Tanya O’Callaghan, and keyboardist Mistheria.
Back in March, Bruce joined Pantera on stage at Adidas Arena in Paris, France. He lent his vocals to one of Pantera’s biggest hits – “Walk.” Check out the fan-filmed footage HERE.
Dickinson’s latest solo album, The Mandrake Project, arrived last year. It is his first new piece of solo material in almost two decades. The single “Afterglow of Ragnarok” was released on Deluxe Gatefold 7″ Vinyl, digital download, and streaming. The physical edition includes the B-side “If Eternity Should Fail (Demo).” To accompany the album, Bruce launched The Mandrake Project comic book series last year.
Joining Dickinson on the road this summer will be guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bassist Tanya O’Callaghan, and keyboardist Mistheria.
When previously speaking on The Mandrake Project before its release, Bruce said, “This album has been a very personal journey for me and I am extremely proud of it. Roy Z and I have been planning, writing and recording it for years, and I am very excited for people to finally hear it. I’m even more excited at the prospect of getting out on the road with this amazing band that we have put together, to be able to bring it to life. We’re planning to play as many shows as we can in as many places as possible, for as many people as we can!”
Last December, Iron Maiden played their final show of their Future Past Tour at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. While it’s always sad to see a tour come to an end, already have another tour to look forward to – The Run For Your Lives World Tour – which begins next spring. Sadly, this current run was the last for longtime drummer Nicko McBrain. Just hours before the show on December 7, Nicko, 72, announced his retirement from touring after 42 years with Iron Maiden. While he will still be very much involved with the band, the time has come for him to get off the road for good. Even though a new drummer will be sitting behind the kit for the band next year, McBrain got to perform one last time with Maiden tonight at Allianz Parque.
Earlier this year, Iron Maiden kicked off their 50th anniversary celebrations. The heavy metal icons launched their The Run For Your Lives World Tour on 27 May, 2025 in Budapest. The run consists of 27 stadium, festival and arena shows across Europe and the UK. The tour marks 50 years since Steve Harris formed the band in late 1975 and to celebrate, Maiden fans are promised a very special set list, spanning the nine studio albums from Iron Maiden (1980) to Fear of the Dark (1992). The band is also boasting that the shows will feature their “most spectacular and elaborate show ever.”
After the final show of the Future Past Tour, Iron Maiden confirmed their new touring drummer for the trek, who already had ties to the band.
Iron Maiden said at the time, “As the Future Past Tour concludes after 81 shows to over 1.4 million fans, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to São Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the kit for 2025 is a name familiar to many of our fans – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve’s rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion. A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the first British Lion album and all of the second critically acclaimed The Burning, plus the many subsequent tours in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and, most recently, both Mexico and South America.”
Simon Dawson was born in Sussex, England, and grew up surrounded by music. From an early age, he showed an aptitude for rhythm, honing his craft with drum kits cobbled together from household items before receiving formal instruction. Influenced by legendary drummers such as John Bonham and Phil Collins, Dawson immersed himself in the sounds of classic rock, metal, and progressive music, laying the foundation for his dynamic style.
In 1990, Dawson joined pop rock hitmakers The Outfield following the departure of founding drummer Alan Jackman. Dawson would play with the band for almost a decade, appearing on four studio albums – Diamond Days (1990), Rockeye (1992), It Ain’t Over… (1998), and Extra Innings (1999). Dawson left the group in 2009, making way for Jackman’s return.
He also gained prominence as a session drummer, collaborating with a wide range of artists across genres. Dawson’s technical skill and ability to adapt to different musical contexts made him a sought-after musician in recording studios and on stages worldwide. Throughout his career, he has worked with the likes of Deep Switch, Dearly Beheaded, Air Race, Devilment, and One Minute Silence.
In 2004, his band Dvoid earned a slot performing at Download Festival.
In 2012, Dawson joined British Lion, a group launched by Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris. That same year, the band released their self-titled debut album through EMI. The LP hit No. 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart. The band released their sophomore effort The Burning in 2020 through Parlophone. The album produced three hit singles for the band, and landed at No. 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart.
Simon Dawson’s drumming style is characterized by its precision, energy, and inventiveness. He blends technical proficiency with a raw, emotive approach, drawing on influences from hard rock, punk, and metal to create a sound that is both powerful and distinct. His ability to adapt his style has allowed him to thrive in a variety of musical environments.
Just hours before what would be his final show with the band, Nicko released a statement detailing his retirement from the road.
“After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle,” Nicko said in a statement earlier today. “Today, Saturday, December 7, São Paulo will be my final gig with Iron Maiden. I wish the band much success moving forward.”
Nicko made it clear, however, that this is not the end of his involvement with Iron Maiden.
He added, “I will, however, remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I’ll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!
What can I say? Touring with Iron Maiden the last 42 years has been an incredible journey! To my devoted fan base, you made it all worthwhile and I love you! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you! I look into the future with much excitement and great hope! I’ll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, Up the Irons!”
Longtime manager Rod Smallwood also released a statement on behalf of the band.
“Nicko, and we all love you too! Thank you for being an irrepressible force behind the drum kit for Maiden for 42 years and my friend for even longer. I speak on behalf of all the band when I say we will miss you immensely!
Ever since Rock in Rio in 1985, we have had a special relationship with Brazil so to bow out of touring in front of 90,000 fans here in São Paulo over two nights is poetic and you are deserving of all the accolades I am sure these marvelous fans will five you on this last show.
Phantom look forward to many more years of working with you on the projects you mentioned and I am sure we can find a few more special ones around the Maiden family and FC!
The band and I all have a thousand great memories of the past 42 years, great gigs, copious platinum and gold discs and awards, love from the fans and one beer too many on too many occasions! Such a bond is forever! And, as Steve Harris says, ‘Nicko is and will always be part of the Maiden family.'”
Smallwood also revealed that Iron Maiden already have a new touring drummer lined up, and a formal announcement will be made “very shortly.”
Back in August of 2023, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain revealed that he suffered a stroke in January and is still recovering. In a video shared on the band’s social media, the legendary 71-year-old drummer stated that the stoke left him “paralyzed” on the right side of his body, and he feared that his career might have been over.
“It [stroke] left me paralyzed on my right side from my shoulder on down, of course I was very worried that my career,” Nicko said.
After 10 weeks of intense therapy, McBrain made a 70% recovery and was able to start tour rehearsals.
This wasn’t Nicko’s first health battle. In 2021, he revealed he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer back in 2020. McBrain publicly broke the news in a low-key interview with the University of Miami (U.S.) School of Medicine.
McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer. He went to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of only 71 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in the United States and one of only two in Florida. Cancer in this part of the body can grow in and around vocal cords and other structures near the voice box. It takes sub-specialists like those at Sylvester to accurately diagnose and treat these types of cancers.
Nicko’s family doctor referred him to David E. Rosow, M.D., FACS, director of the Division of Laryngology and Voice at the University of Miami Health System, who performed the endoscopy in 2020 and diagnosed Nicko stage 1 laryngeal cancer. Dr. Rosow removed the cancer the following week. Now, Nicko gets check-ups every few months to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned
“I thoroughly recommend that anyone who may feel there is something different with their voice to go and get it checked out,” McBrain said. “And don’t put it off. It was very good for me that I caught it in stage 1.”
Throughout their 2025 tour, Iron Maiden will be joined by very special guests Halestorm, The Raven Age, and Avatar on select dates. Halestorm will perform on the first half of the tour, including the London and Dublin outdoor shows – but not the UK arenas. The second half of the tour sees Sweden’s Avatar as the opening act. British metal band The Raven Age will open all UK and Ireland shows. Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Trooper VIP Packages will be available at all shows.
“Next year is a very special one for Iron Maiden and we’re going to be giving our fans a once-in-a-lifetime live experience,” frontman Bruce Dickinson states. This is a tour that’s gonna put a smile on your face and a cheer in your throat. If you’ve seen us before, then get ready to take that experience to a whole new level. If you’ve never seen us before, then what the hell have you been waiting for? Now’s your chance to find out what you’ve been missing! Iron Maiden’s definitely gonna get ya!”
The band’s long-time manager Rod Smallwood adds, “50 years of Maiden and I have seen 46 of them! With well over 100 million albums sold and almost 2,500 shows in 64 countries and counting, to countless millions of fans, we are all still loving every second and consider every tour a new challenge to bring something different and exciting to our fans. And for this very special one we’re pulling out all the stops!
We will cover classics and fan favourites from the first nine albums, from Iron Maiden to Fear of the Dark, many of which we haven’t played in years and many we will likely never play again in the future. We have already been hard at work for months putting together an even more spectacular and elaborate new show which will bring the songs to life more than we have ever been able to do before. This is going to be a huge couple of years for Iron Maiden, and Eddie of course, and we are very excited about what we have up our sleeves for you fans throughout the whole of our 50th year. I promise you are all going to be very happy indeed!”
On Saturday, 28 June, the band will perform at the London Stadium, home of West Ham Football Club – the team that band founder Steve Harris has supported throughout his life, and with whom Iron Maiden have a long and storied history.
This concert in front of over 60,000 fans, will be the first time that Iron Maiden have performed on the club’s hallowed turf. A true homecoming show – with Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Nicko McBrain all born in the surrounding area – it will also be the biggest UK venue the band have ever headlined outside of their festival appearances.
Steve Harris states, “My love of football and my support of West Ham is no secret, and I know many of our fans around the world have shared that with me too. So we’re all very excited to be playing at the London Stadium as part of the Run For Your Lives Tour. We can’t wait to see you all there!”
This leg of Iron Maiden’s Future Past Tour kicked off back on October 4 at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in San Diego, California. A highlight of the trek was their headlining performance at Aftershock Festival 2024 in Sacramento, California. The run wraps up on November 17 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. From there, the group will head to South America for an exclusive show in Santiago, Chile at Estadio Nacional.
Late last year, the band announced that they would be extending their Future Past run, which wrapped at Power Trip in Indio, California earlier this month. The first round of shows is set for this September at in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Very special guests Killswitch Engage will be serving as special guests for the trek.
“We’ve really enjoyed playing all the shows on the Future Past Tour this year, and the reaction from our fans has been incredible,” Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris said in a statement. “Being able to play some of these songs for the very first time has made the tour even more memorable, and we can’t wait to continue it next year.”
Regarding the Australian dates, which were previously postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris adds, “We’re all really excited to finally be able to return to Australia as we know our fans have waited so patiently for us over the past few years. It’s going to be great to get back out there, especially with this new show. We promise you all, it’ll be worth the wait!”
The band’s longtime manager Rod Smallwood said, “All our best-laid plans to bring the Legacy of the Beast Tour to Australia were derailed by the shut-down of the live music industry during COVID, but we assured everyone at the time that we would come back to Australia and, as our fans know, we always keep our promises. So, as you would imagine, we’re very much looking forward to bringing this amazing new show to the Southern hemisphere and giving our loyal Australian fans the best Maiden show we can. You can be assured it’s worth the wait. See you all in 2024!”
Still one of the hardest touring acts around, Iron Maiden brought their Legacy of the Beast Tour back to North American last year for another massive run. The band’s latest album Senjutsu arrived in 2021. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. Last fall, they played a string of shows in Canada, followed by an appearance at Power Trip in Indio, California alongside Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Judas Priest, and Tool.
