British heavy metal pioneers Iron Maiden had a high-profile encounter ahead of their May 26 performance in Sofia, Bulgaria. Prior to taking the stage at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, the band sat down with Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova.
Following the meeting, Iotova shared a video of the interaction on her social media platforms. In her accompanying statement, the president praised the group, writing:
“It was a pleasure to welcome to Bulgaria the musicians from Iron Maiden. I am impressed that these metal legends and titans on the stage are extremely down-to-earth people. I wish them success at their concert in Sofia tonight and for many years on stage!”
The Sofia concert drew a massive crowd of over 30,000 fans, marking another successful stop on the band’s ongoing “Run For Your Lives” 50th-anniversary tour. After the show, Iron Maiden took to Facebook to thank the local crowd, sharing photos from the packed stadium.
Fans attending the Bulgarian show were also treated to a unique on-site experience at “Eddie‘s Official Pop-Up Dive Bar”. The stadium installation served as a central gathering point for concertgoers before and after the gig, offering exclusive merchandise alongside the band’s signature beverages, Trooper Beer and Darkest Red Wine.
Iron Maiden officially launched the 2026 leg of the “Run For Your Lives” tour just days prior, playing the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens in Greece on May 23. The ambitious anniversary trek features a setlist dedicated exclusively to the band’s groundbreaking first nine studio albums, accompanied by a massive, state-of-the-art stage production designed specifically for large outdoor venues. While the majority of the setlist mirrored the band’s 2025 itinerary, the crowd was treated to a massive, unexpected surprise. For the first time since 1988, the band performed “Infinite Dreams“, pulled directly from their classic seventh studio album, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son. The track had not been played live since the original touring cycle supporting the LP nearly four decades ago.
Later this year, the heavy metal legends will bring the monumental tour across the Atlantic. As announced last October, the North American run will hit stadiums and major amphitheaters throughout the United States and Canada. The trek will also feature a headlining performance at the Louder Than Life festival in Kentucky on September 17, 2026.
Iron Maiden “Run For Your Lives” 2026 World Tour Dates:
- 06/02 – Hannover, GERMANY @ Heinz von Heiden Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 06/04 – Solvesborg, SWEDEN @ Sweden Rock
- 06/06 – Nurnberg, GERMANY @ Zeppelinfeld (Rock IM Park)
- 06/07 – Nurburgring, GERMANY @ Rock AM Ring
- 06/10 – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS @ Ziggo Dome (feat. Evergrey)
- 06/13 – Nickelsdorf, AUSTRIA @ Nova Rock
- 06/14 – Hradec Kralove, CZECH REPUBLIC @ Rock For People
- 06/17 – Milan, ITALY @ San Siro Stadium (feat. Trivium)
- 06/19 – Clisson, FRANCE @ Hellfest
- 06/22 – Paris, FRANCE @ Paris La Défense Arena (feat. Evergrey)
- 06/24 – 06/27 – Copenhagen, DENMARK @ Copenhell
- 06/25 – Oslo, NORWAY @ Tons of Rock
- 06/28 – Lyon, FRANCE @ Groupama Stadium (feat. Anthrax)
- 06/29 – Antwerp, BELGIUM @ Live is Live
- 07/01 – 07/04 – Viveiro, SPAIN @ Resurrection Fest
- 07/04 – Cartagena, SPAIN @ Rock Imperium Festival
- 07/07 – Lisbon, PORTUGAL @ Estádio da Luz (feat. Anthrax)
- 07/11 – Knebworth, UK @ EddFest (feat. The Darkness, The Hu, Airbourne, The Almighty)
- 08/29 – Toronto, ON, CANADA @ Scotiabank Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 08/30 – Toronto, ON, CANADA @ Scotiabank Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/03 – Montréal, QC, CANADA @ Parc Jean-Drapeau (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/05 – Harrison, NJ, USA @ Sports Illustrated Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/06 – Harrison, NJ, USA @ Sports Illustrated Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/09 – Boston, MA, USA @ TD Garden (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/11 – Bristow, VA, USA @ Jiffy Lube Live (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/12 – Charlotte, NC, USA @ PNC Music Pavilion (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/15 – Hershey, PA, USA @ Hersheypark Stadium (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/17 – Louisville, KY, USA @ Louder Than Life Festival
- 09/19 – Shakopee, MN, USA @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/22 – Chicago, IL, USA @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/25 – Los Angeles, CA, USA @ BMO Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/27 – Los Angeles, CA, USA @ BMO Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/29 – San Antonio, TX, USA @ Alamodome (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 10/02 – Mexico City, MEXICO @ Estadio GNP Seguros (feat. Anthrax)
- 10/05 – San Salvador, EL SALVADOR @ Estadio Jorge “Mágico” González (feat. The Raven Age, Souls of Steel)
- 10/08 – San José, COSTA RICA @ Estadio Nacional (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/11 – Bogotá, COLOMBIA @ Vive Claro (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/14 – Quito, ECUADOR @ Estadio Atahualpa (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/17 – Lima, PERU @ Estadio Nacional (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/20 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA @ Estadio Hurácan (feat. La H No Murió)
- 10/21 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA @ Estadio Hurácan (feat. La H No Murió)
- 10/25 – São Paulo, BRAZIL @ Allianz Parque (feat. Alter Bridge)
- 10/27 – São Paulo, BRAZIL @ Allianz Parque (feat. Alter Bridge)
- 10/31 – Santiago, CHILE @ Estadio Nacional (feat. Mammoth, Nuclear)
- 11/01 – Santiago, CHILE @ Estadio Nacional (feat. Mammoth, Nuclear)
- 11/07 – Auckland, NEW ZEALAND @ Spark Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/11 – Adelaide, AUSTRALIA @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/13 – Melbourne, AUSTRALIA @ AAMI Park (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/15 – Sydney, AUSTRALIA @ Allianz Stadium (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/18 – Brisbane, AUSTRALIA @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/24 – Yokohama, JAPAN @ K-Arena
- 11/25 – Yokohama, JAPAN @ K-Arena
