IRON MAIDEN + Anthrax – May 23, 2026 – Olympic Stadium (OAKA), Athens

Iron Maiden sets Athens ablaze as the “Run For Your Lives” tour returns.

Some bands celebrate anniversaries. Then there’s Iron Maiden, a band that turns every anniversary into a statement of power. After launching their monumental “Run For Your Lives” tour in 2025 — focused on the band’s first nine studio albums, from Iron Maiden (1980) to Fear of the Dark (1992) — the British legends returned in 2026 for a new European leg kicking off at Athens’ massive Olympic Stadium. A symbolic setting packed with tens of thousands of fans who had travelled from all over the world to witness yet another chapter in Maiden history.

There was huge anticipation surrounding how the show had evolved, whether the setlist would change and, above all, how the band would respond after nearly a year away from the stage. Because even a machine as perfectly engineered as Iron Maiden needs time to regain full speed.

Anthrax: New York thrash royalty opens the night

At exactly 7:00 PM, Anthrax stormed the stage. As one of thrash metal’s defining institutions and undeniable members of the legendary “Big Four,” few bands could realistically handle the difficult task of opening for Iron Maiden in a stadium environment like this. The New Yorkers quickly proved why they remain such an essential force.

• 

• 

• 

Led by Scott Ian and Frank Bello alongside a phenomenal Joey Belladonna — who constantly interacted with the crowd throughout the set — Anthrax delivered forty-five intense and explosive minutes heavily focused on their first three albums. Completing the lineup were guitarist Jon Donais and drummer Darby Todd, temporarily replacing Charlie Benante while he continues balancing duties with Pantera’s current touring activity.

“Among the Living”, “Caught in a Mosh” and “Madhouse” immediately sent the Greek crowd into chaos. There was no room for new material from Cursum Perficio, the band’s upcoming September release, which was understandable given the limited set time. Even so, Anthrax once again proved themselves to be a devastating live band and the perfect luxury support act for a tour of this magnitude.

“Doctor Doctor” and the Maiden calling

Shortly before 8:40 PM, with the OAKA completely packed, that familiar moment every Iron Maiden fan instantly recognizes finally arrived. The opening notes of UFO’s “Doctor Doctor” echoed through the stadium speakers and the entire venue exploded into one gigantic singalong.

No matter how many times you experience it, it still gives you chills.

Greek, British, Spanish and Latin American fans waved flags alongside supporters from across Europe, all sharing that unforgettable moment that always precedes a Maiden show. More than tradition, it has become a collective ceremony — a call to arms for generations of heavy metal fans.

The intro video once again transported the audience through the streets and pubs of West London where Iron Maiden was born half a century ago, before shifting to Paris for “Murders in the Rue Morgue” And yes: Maiden opened this second leg of the tour exactly the same way they did in 2025, with three consecutive songs from Killers. A true gift for longtime fans and, inevitably, a beautiful tribute to the late Paul Di’Anno.

“Wrathchild” delivered one of the night’s standout images when Bruce Dickinson completely turned toward Steve Harris as the bassist hammered out the legendary riff, standing motionless for a few seconds with a look of total complicity, as if confirming that the machine was finally running again.

On “Killers”, Dickinson reached impressively high notes, giving the 1981 classic an entirely different dimension. But the real star here was someone else. Eddie appeared in his classic Killers incarnation, axe in hand, first chasing Janick Gers and then Bruce Dickinson in a brief but entertaining appearance.

That said, during these opening moments something else became noticeable: Iron Maiden was still warming back up. The band hadn’t performed since August of last year and, although any small mistakes were practically invisible to most of the audience, there was definitely a sense of extreme concentration and nerves onstage. But that’s also part of the magic of attending the first show of a world tour: watching a legendary band slowly rediscover its cruising speed.

Fire, flares and the return of “Infinite Dreams”

After “Phantom of the Opera”, the show reached another level with “The Number of the Beast”, Flames and explosions engulfed the stage while the Greek audience added its own visual element: red flares lighting up huge sections of the Olympic Stadium.

There wasn’t fire only onstage.

The OAKA turned blood red as smoke rose into the Athenian night, creating an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. Flares may be banned in most European events, but in Greece they still remain part of a culture of extreme passion that’s difficult to explain in words. For a few minutes, the stadium felt transformed into a gigantic battle between fire, metal and darkness.

And then came the night’s biggest surprise.

“I know it’s not ‘Alexander The Great’… but you’re gonna like this one.”

With those words, Bruce Dickinson introduced “Infinite Dreams”, performed live for the first time since 1988 and replacing “The Clairvoyant” in the setlist. Adrian Smith played the opening notes and the stadium erupted in a mixture of disbelief and genuine emotion. Some fans had literally waited decades to hear this song live. And it was absolutely worth it.

Interestingly, it was also from this point onward that the band seemed to fully relax. Smiles became more frequent and the group visibly started enjoying themselves even more onstage.

“Powerslave”, “2 Minutes to Midnight” and the monumental “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” once again confirmed how brilliantly constructed this classic-era focused setlist truly is.

• 

• 

And here it’s impossible not to highlight Janick Gers, who remains an absolute spectacle live — constantly running across the stage or literally throwing his guitar into the air before delivering his solos with total brilliance. Special recognition must also go to Dave Murray, who delivered an outstanding performance. There may have been a few moments of hesitation typical of a first show of the year, but his execution and solos remained elegant and precise. Many fans constantly speculate that he could eventually become the next member to step away following Nicko McBrain’s retirement, but performances like this make it difficult to imagine Iron Maiden without him.

And speaking of drummers, Simon Dawson once again proved that Steve Harris made a very intelligent decision by embracing a more classic and straightforward approach closer to the spirit Clive Burr brought to the band’s early albums. It feels perfectly suited for a tour so deeply connected to Iron Maiden’s roots.

“Hallowed Be Thy Name” once again became one of the visual peaks of the night. Bruce Dickinson appeared trapped inside a prison cell, pursued by spectral figures before walking toward the gallows through digital environments that transformed the song into a genuine piece of heavy metal theatre.

The main set closer, “Iron Maiden”, gave way to the largest Eddie we’ve probably ever seen on an Iron Maiden tour. The Piece of Mind Eddie, freed from his straitjacket and completely out of control, dominated the giant screens while pyrotechnics exploded throughout the stadium. Watching the chaos unfold around him, Bruce simply smiled and shouted: “Not bad, was it?”

A grand finale

“Aces High” once again turned the Olympic Stadium into a sea of flares while Dickinson tackled one of the most demanding songs in Maiden’s entire catalogue. At 67 years old, Bruce no longer attempts to hit every note exactly the same way he did in 1984 during the World Slavery Tour. Instead, he approaches certain sections with intelligence and elegance, prioritizing the longevity of his voice. And honestly, nobody should criticize him for that. Because he still remains the man who defined the standard of what a true heavy metal frontman should be.

“Fear of the Dark” once again created one of those magical moments impossible to fully explain. And then came “Wasted Years”. Adrian Smith’s immortal opening notes echoed across the stadium as tens of thousands of exhausted voices sang every word together. What a way to close a concert.

Run For Your Lives is not a nostalgic tour. It is proof that Iron Maiden is still capable of turning an entire stadium into a collective experience unlike anything else.

And the journey has only just begun. The tour will continue across Europe before heading worldwide, but special attention is already focused on July 11 at Knebworth, England, where Maiden will headline the massive “EddFest” event — a celebration designed to become one of the defining gatherings in the band’s history.

After what happened in Athens, one thing is absolutely clear: this is not just another Iron Maiden tour. It is one of the most important heavy metal events of the decade.

Remaining “Run For Your Lives” 2026 Tour Dates

• Sofia, Bulgaria — May 26

• Bucharest, Romania — May 28

• Bratislava, Slovakia — May 30

• Hannover, Germany — June 2

• Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden — June 4

• Rock Im Park, Germany — June 6

• Rock Am Ring, Germany — June 7

• Amsterdam, Netherlands — June 10

• Nova Rock, Austria — June 13

• Rock For People, Czech Republic — June 14

• Milan, Italy — June 17

• Hellfest, France — June 19

• Paris, France — June 22

• Copenhell, Denmark — June 24

• Tons of Rock, Norway — June 25

• Lyon, France — June 28

• Antwerp, Belgium — June 29

• Resurrection Fest, Spain — July 2

• Rock Imperium Festival, Spain — July 4

• Lisbon, Portugal — July 7

• EddFest — Knebworth, England — July 11

The Riff Collective