Iron Maiden has officially announced the Australasian leg of their acclaimed Run For Your Lives World Tour. The legendary band will perform in New Zealand and Australia in November 2026, marking their eighth visit to the region. This tour celebrates their 50th anniversary and will feature an extensive setlist drawing from their first nine albums, alongside a brand-new, state-of-the-art production.
Fans can expect to see Iron Maiden headline outdoor stadiums for the first time in both Melbourne and Sydney, a significant milestone for the band Down Under. Megadeth will join them as special guests for these highly anticipated shows.
Key Takeaways
- Iron Maiden's Run For Your Lives World Tour reaches Australasia in November 2026.
- The tour includes stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney, a first for the band in these cities.
- Megadeth will perform as special guests for all Australasian dates.
- The setlist focuses on songs from Iron Maiden's first nine albums.
- This marks Iron Maiden's eighth tour of Australia and second of New Zealand.
- The band requests fans limit phone usage during concerts.
Tour Dates and Venues Revealed
The tour kicks off in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to various Australian cities. Fans have eagerly awaited these dates since the initial announcement of the world tour.
The schedule includes a mix of arena and stadium performances, allowing for a wide reach across the region.
Tour Itinerary
- November 7, 2026: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND – Spark Arena
- November 11, 2026: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
- November 13, 2026: Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – AAMI Park
- November 15, 2026: Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Allianz Stadium
- November 18, 2026: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
For the first time, Iron Maiden will headline outdoor stadiums in Melbourne at AAMI Park and in Sydney at Allianz Stadium. This offers a larger capacity for fans to experience the band's elaborate stage production.
Arena shows are scheduled for Adelaide and Brisbane, providing more intimate settings within those cities. New Zealand will see the band return to Auckland's Spark Arena.
A Historic Return for Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden's connection with Australia dates back to 1982 when they first played to 2,000 fans in Sydney. Since then, their popularity has grown significantly, leading to increasingly larger venues on subsequent tours.
This upcoming tour marks their eighth visit to Australia and second to New Zealand, having first played there in 1992.
“We are very excited to be bringing this tour to Australia & New Zealand later this year. And even more so as we are bringing Megadeth with us. Dave and I have been friends for years and we are very proud to have them as our special guests on their last-ever world tour,” bassist Steve Harris stated. “I think our fans will really appreciate this and it will make it an even more memorable show for everyone. We very much look forward to getting down there to see you all at the end of 2026!”
The inclusion of Megadeth as special guests adds another layer of excitement for metal fans. Megadeth recently achieved a number one album in both Australia and the USA with their latest release.
This collaboration is particularly significant as it coincides with Megadeth's final world tour, making these shows a unique opportunity to see both legendary bands together.
Band History in Australasia
Iron Maiden first toured Australia in November 1982 as part of their 'Beast On The Road' tour. Their first visit to New Zealand was in 1992 during the 'Fear Of The Dark' tour. Over the decades, they have consistently played to growing audiences, demonstrating their enduring appeal in the region.
An Unforgettable Setlist and Production
The Run For Your Lives World Tour features a unique setlist focused on material from Iron Maiden's groundbreaking first nine albums. This offers fans a chance to hear many classic tracks that have not been played live in years.
The band is bringing a brand-new, state-of-the-art production designed to complement this special setlist. The large venues chosen for the Australasian leg will allow the full scale of this production to be showcased.
Manager Rod Smallwood emphasized the special nature of the show:
“We are delighted to be returning to Australia and New Zealand just two years after our last visit to that part of the world. It’s always a great experience playing to our fans there, and we know they really appreciate seeing us whenever we can visit. And this time we are playing some new outdoor venues too, including the Allianz Stadium in Sydney and AAMI Park in Melbourne. I can promise our fans that they are in for a real treat with this setlist and show. The band have been loving revisiting this era and especially enjoy playing these songs with the state-of-the-art visuals we’ve created to accompany them. We’ve got all the big ones from the early days including Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run To The Hills, Phantom of the Opera, Trooper, Number Of The Beast, Killers, Powerslave, 2 Minutes To Midnight and more. Plus there’s some true epics including Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, which will be even more special because these shows will be at the very end of The Run For Your Lives Tour, and so the final time the band will ever be playing a number of these songs.”
The setlist promises to include fan favorites such as Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run To The Hills, The Trooper, and The Number Of The Beast. Additionally, longer epic tracks like Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son are confirmed.
These Australasian dates will mark the final time the band performs some of these songs, adding to the tour's significance.
A Call for Phone-Free Concerts
Iron Maiden has made a specific request to fans regarding phone usage during their shows. They encourage attendees to keep phones in their pockets, particularly in standing areas close to the stage.
This initiative was first tested in Australasia during The Future Past Tour and received positive feedback from both the band and fans in Europe.
Rod Smallwood added:
“One thing to add, it was really special on our European dates last year to see that the vast majority of our fans appreciated and respected our request to severely limit their use of phones at our concerts, ideally just keeping it in their pockets the whole time, especially in those standing areas in front of the stage. Our fans’ understanding and cooperation made a colossal difference to the atmosphere of every show and increased the enjoyment enormously for the band and fans alike. Therefore we ask all our fans in Australia and New Zealand to do the same and enjoy the show ‘in the moment’ rather than film on their phones. Please keep them in your pockets.”
The band believes that reducing phone use enhances the overall concert experience, allowing everyone to be present and enjoy the music directly.
Exclusive Fan Experiences
Beyond the main concert, Iron Maiden is bringing back popular fan engagement elements. The Eddie’s Pop-up Dive Bar experience, which proved successful in Europe, will return to Australasia.
This pop-up offers a unique atmosphere for fans, combining Iron Maiden's Trooper Beer with exclusive tour merchandise.
The well-loved Trooper VIP Experience will also be available at all venues, providing premium access and amenities for dedicated fans.
Promoter Paul Dainty AO commented on the scale of the upcoming tour:
“This will be Iron Maiden’s biggest tour of Australasia ever. Headlining stadiums in Melbourne and Sydney for the first time in their 50-year history is a massive moment. And with Megadeth joining the tour, this is going to be an absolute powerhouse night of metal — two giants of the genre, one colossal production, and a show Maiden fans won’t know what hit them.”
Following this extensive tour, Iron Maiden plans to take a break from touring in 2027. This makes the Run For Your Lives World Tour a crucial event for fans worldwide, especially those in Australasia.
Ticket Information
Iron Maiden Fan Club pre-sales begin on Monday, March 2. General public ticket sales will commence on Friday, March 6.
No further countries will be added to the Run For Your Lives World Tour, making these announced dates the final opportunities to see the band on this specific tour.