Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are the British heavy metal institution behind 17 studio albums, over 100 million records sold, and close to 2,500 shows across 64 countries. Built on twin guitar melodies, elaborate stage productions, and the operatic presence of frontman Bruce Dickinson, they remain one of the most untouchable live acts on the planet — a band that has never needed backing tracks to fill a stadium.
The band is currently deep into their 50th anniversary "Run For Your Lives" World Tour, which brings them to Australia in November 2026 for stadium dates in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with Megadeth locked in as support. The tour coincides with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — though the band will skip the Los Angeles ceremony entirely, with manager Rod Smallwood confirming that the Australian shows take precedence. Dickinson, for his part, has previously been vocal in his criticism of the institution.
Alongside the tour, Iron Maiden have unveiled Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition, a feature-length documentary directed by Malcolm Venville tracing their five-decade career from East End London upstarts to stadium-filling elder statesmen. Hitting Australian cinemas in May 2026, the film features contributions from Lars Ulrich, Tom Morello and Chuck D, alongside rare archival footage and animated sequences spotlighting mascot Eddie. BLUNT's review calls it "hugely enjoyable hagiography" — a celebration that's fun if not particularly deep. Rounding out a big year, the band is also hosting EddFest, a two-day festival at Knebworth in July 2026, headlining alongside The Hu, The Darkness and Airbourne.