What to expect at Iron Maiden's Run For Your Lives World Tour: Setlist, start time and more

Some concert lineups barely need an introduction. Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Anthrax sharing the same night is one of them.

Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” World Tour is now underway in North America as the band celebrates 50 years of one of the most influential careers in heavy metal. For longtime fans, it is a chance to see Maiden mark a major anniversary on a massive scale. For newer fans, it is a pretty serious introduction to what has made the band such a force live for decades.

Whether you already have tickets or are still deciding which date to catch, here is everything to know before the “Run For Your Lives” Tour.

Ultimate guide to Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” World Tour

Iron Maiden could have easily turned this into a career-spanning greatest-hits show. Instead, the band is sticking to its first nine studio albums, from Iron Maiden through Fear of the Dark.

That means the night is rooted in the Maiden era a lot of fans know best, with room for the obvious classics and some deeper cuts that do not always make it into a typical tour set.

Upcoming Iron Maiden “Run For Your Lives” tour dates

Below are the remaining North American headline dates for Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” World Tour.

Iron Maiden will also headline Louder Than Life at Highland Festival Grounds in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, September 17.

Who is opening for Iron Maiden on the “Run For Your Lives” tour?

Megadeth are the special guest on all remaining North American headline dates, while Anthrax join the bill for both Los Angeles shows and the San Antonio finale.

Megadeth bring a full headliner’s worth of thrash pedigree to the middle of the bill. Dave Mustaine and company add speed, precision and a catalog deep enough to make their set feel like much more than a warmup.

On the dates where Anthrax are also playing, they add another major piece of thrash history to the night. The New York veterans bring a looser, more crowd-driven energy before Megadeth and Maiden take over.

What time does Iron Maiden go on stage?

Iron Maiden has been taking the stage around 8:35 to 8:50 p.m. on the North American leg so far. The band started at 8:45 p.m. in Toronto, 8:35 p.m. in Montréal and 8:40 and 8:50 p.m. across the two Harrison shows.

The support schedule has been just as consistent on the triple-bill dates. Anthrax started at about 6:10 p.m. in Montréal and Harrison, with Megadeth following around 7:05 to 7:10 p.m.

That makes around 8:45 p.m. the best estimate for Maiden, but fans planning to see the full bill should be inside well before then. Venue schedules can still shift from city to city.

How long is an Iron Maiden concert?

Plan on about two hours to two hours and 10 minutes of Iron Maiden. The Montréal show ran from 8:35 to 10:45 p.m., the first Harrison show from 8:40 to 10:50 p.m. and the second Harrison night from 8:50 to 10:50 p.m.

If you are seeing Anthrax and Megadeth too, the full concert night stretches much longer. At the recent triple-bill shows, Anthrax was on around 6:10 p.m. and Maiden finished close to 10:50 p.m., putting the live music portion of the night at roughly four hours and 40 minutes from the first opener to the final song.

Iron Maiden “Run For Your Lives” setlist

Iron Maiden has barely touched the setlist since the North American leg began. Toronto, Montréal and both Harrison shows all followed the same song order, giving fans a pretty reliable picture of what to expect.

The night starts with the familiar taped “Doctor Doctor,” followed by “The Ides of March” before Maiden comes out with “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” From there, the band stays entirely within its first nine albums before closing with a three-song encore.

The set leans hardest on Powerslave, with four songs, while Killers and The Number of the Beast each get three. The bigger takeaway, though, is how deep Maiden is willing to go. Alongside staples like “The Trooper” and “Run to the Hills,” fans are getting longer cuts like “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” every night.

Does Iron Maiden play older hits?

Absolutely. The “Run For Your Lives” setlist lives almost entirely in the Iron Maiden songs fans have been yelling back at the band for decades.

“The Number of the Beast,” “Run to the Hills,” “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” “Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark” and “Wasted Years” are all in the show, but Maiden is not stopping with the obvious choices. Longer cuts like “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” give longtime fans plenty to dig into too.

Is there an encore at Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” concert?

Yes, and it is a big one. After closing the main set with “Iron Maiden,” the band returns following “Churchill’s Speech” for “Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark” and “Wasted Years.”

With three songs that could easily close the show on their own packed into the encore, this is definitely not the night to start heading for the exits early.

What is the “Run For Your Lives” production like?

Iron Maiden has never been a band that simply walks onstage and plays the songs, and “Run For Your Lives” gives nearly every part of the set its own look.

One of the biggest changes on this tour is the massive video screen behind the band. Animated scenes and graphics shift with the songs, taking fans through different worlds as the set moves from album to album. Eddie still makes his appearances, while pyrotechnics, theatrical lighting, Bruce Dickinson’s costume changes and plenty of movement across the stage keep the physical side of a Maiden show intact.

There is a new face behind the kit as well. Simon Dawson is touring with Maiden after Nicko McBrain stepped away from the road, and recent shows have shown Dawson putting his own stamp on songs fans have heard McBrain play for decades.

When should you arrive for Iron Maiden’s concert?

If you want to catch the full bill, get there early. Megadeth are playing every remaining North American headline date, with Anthrax joining in Los Angeles and San Antonio. On the recent triple-bill shows, Anthrax started around 6:10 p.m., Megadeth around 7:10 p.m. and Iron Maiden around 8:35 to 8:50 p.m.

For fans planning to grab merch, food or drinks before finding their seats, arriving about 90 minutes before the listed show time gives you some breathing room. Even if you are heading straight in, giving yourself at least an hour is safer than trying to time it perfectly.

What should you bring to an Iron Maiden concert?

Start with the basics: your mobile ticket, a charged phone, ID and whatever payment method you plan to use inside. A portable charger can also be useful for a night that starts with two openers and runs well past two hours once Maiden takes the stage.

Earplugs are especially worth bringing. Between Anthrax, Megadeth and Iron Maiden, this is a loud night from the start, and hearing protection can make a big difference by the time the encore arrives.

For outdoor dates, a light layer is smart once the temperature drops. Beyond that, keep the bag small and check the venue’s prohibited-items policy before heading out.

What should fans wear to the “Run For Your Lives” tour?

You are not going to feel out of place in a band shirt. Maiden tees, old tour shirts, Megadeth and Anthrax gear, denim vests, patches and battle jackets are everywhere at shows like this.

More important than matching the room is being comfortable. This can be a long night between parking, merch lines, two openers and a full Maiden set, so wear shoes you can stand in for hours and bring layers if you are heading to an outdoor date.

Is Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” tour good for younger fans?

It can be, especially for kids or teenagers who already know the band and are excited to see Maiden live. The crowd spans generations, and this is the kind of tour where plenty of longtime fans are bringing younger family members along.

Just know what the night involves. The show is loud, long and packed with pyro, flashing lights and darker theatrical visuals. Good ear protection is a must for younger fans, and assigned seats can be a more comfortable first experience than the pit or a general-admission floor.

Age rules can vary by venue, so check the specific event policy before you go.

How to get Iron Maiden tour tickets on SeatGeek

With amphitheaters, stadiums and arenas still left on the schedule, where you sit can change the feel of the night quite a bit. SeatGeek lets you compare those options before choosing the setup that works for you.

Here’s how:

1. Go to SeatGeek's website or open the SeatGeek app and search for “Iron Maiden.”

2. Select the “Run For Your Lives” concert date and city you want to attend.

3. Use the interactive seat map to compare sections, rows and prices.

4. Use View From Seat when available to preview your sightline before buying.

5. Check Deal Score to identify Iron Maiden tickets that offer strong value for the seat location.

6. Use filters to sort by price, ticket quantity, section or other preferences.

7. Review the full ticket details, including section, row, seat, delivery method and all-in pricing, before checkout.

8. Complete your purchase and follow the ticket delivery instructions in your SeatGeek account. Eligible purchases are backed by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee.

9. Before the show, make sure your mobile tickets are ready, your phone is charged and your venue’s bag policy is confirmed.

For a band that has spent 50 years turning metal shows into full-blown theater, hearing that first roar when Maiden finally walks onstage still hits differently.

Up the Irons.