An Open Letter: “Time Has Come” — Iron Maiden Announces 2026 Farewell Tour ‘One Last Ride’ Marks the End of a Rock Legend’s Era – Dates and Cities Revealed…

An Open Letter: “Time Has Come” — Iron Maiden Announces 2026 Farewell Tour

The time has come. Words we never thought we would write, but after more than four decades of fire, fury, and unforgettable music, we, Iron Maiden, announce to you today what will be our final global tour. Appropriately named One Last Ride, this farewell journey will begin in 2026 and carry us across continents, back to the arenas and stadiums where your voices became louder than any amplifier.

This is not a goodbye in sadness, but a celebration of a life shared — a life of heavy metal, brotherhood, and the unbreakable bond between band and fan. We have always believed that Iron Maiden belongs not only to us, but to all of you. From the first roar of Phantom of the Opera in small pubs to the massive pyrotechnics of The Book of Souls tour, this band has been built on your passion, your loyalty, and your undying belief in what music can mean.

Why Now?

Age and time are undefeated opponents, even for a band that has lived by the creed of defiance. Touring at this scale requires strength, stamina, and the kind of relentless energy we’ve prided ourselves on delivering every night. We never wanted to be the band that slowed down, that gave less than everything, that leaned on nostalgia instead of passion. So, the decision was clear: finish strong, on our own terms, while the flame still burns with intensity.

Bruce has always said, “You don’t retire from being in Iron Maiden, but you do choose when to climb down from the stage.” For us, that time is 2026.

The Legacy We Carry

Iron Maiden’s story is written in your voices, your raised fists, your banners waved in arenas across the globe. You gave life to Eddie, our eternal mascot, and you kept our albums at the top of the charts through generations of changing trends. While the world shifted, our music — your music — never wavered.

Together, we built something rare: a global metal family. We saw it in São Paulo, where 100,000 voices sang Fear of the Dark in unison. We felt it in Tokyo, where Eddie was treated like royalty. We heard it in the echoes of Donington, Rock in Rio, Wacken, Madison Square Garden, Sydney, Johannesburg — places far apart but united in spirit.

We leave the stage not with regret, but with gratitude. Every night, every encore, every chant of “Maiden! Maiden!” has been a gift we never took for granted.

The Final Tour: One Last Ride

And so, One Last Ride is not just a farewell. It’s a celebration. We will play the songs that made us, the anthems that defined eras, and the deep cuts that true fans always hoped to hear. Expect The Trooper, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run to the Hills, Number of the Beast — but also surprises we’ve held back for this moment.

The tour will begin in Europe in May 2026, with dates across the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. We’ll then head to North America through the summer, hitting iconic venues like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Toronto. South America awaits in the fall, with massive shows in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile — places that have always lifted us higher than we dreamed possible. The final leg will close in Asia and Australia by the year’s end, culminating in one last night at London’s Wembley Stadium, the city where it all began.

Dates and ticket details are already posted on our official website. We encourage you to mark your calendars, gather your fellow Troopers, and join us in making history one last time.

To the Fans

To the first fan who bought Iron Maiden on vinyl in 1980, to the teenagers discovering Senjutsu today, and everyone in between — you are Iron Maiden. Without you, this band would never have survived, let alone thrived. You gave us careers, but more importantly, you gave us purpose.

We remember the letters, the tears, the tattoos, the children named after our songs. We remember the fans who followed us from city to city, the ones who slept on sidewalks to get tickets, the ones who flew banners from the rafters. We remember those who are no longer with us, who sang their last chorus but whose spirits live on in every crowd.

Iron Maiden is more than music — it is community, rebellion, defiance, hope, and faith. To every single fan who ever shouted along, you have our eternal thanks.

To the Crew and Family

This farewell is also for those who rarely stood in the spotlight: our road crew, our managers, our families who sacrificed time, holidays, and sometimes sanity to keep this machine rolling. You are as much Iron Maiden as any note we ever played.

What Comes After

While One Last Ride marks the end of Iron Maiden as a touring force, it is not the end of creativity. Music, film, books, and Eddie himself will live on. We may not be circling the globe anymore, but the Iron Maiden spirit remains immortal.

We promise to continue releasing live archives, special editions, and perhaps even new music when the moment calls. Retirement from touring is not retirement from passion.

The Final Word

So here we are: the final curtain call begins. We go into it with joy, with pride, and with love for each of you who has been part of this extraordinary journey. Heavy metal gave us a life, and you gave us a reason to live it to the fullest.

Join us in 2026 for One Last Ride. Let us raise the banners, light the fires, and make the ground shake one final time. Together, we will close this chapter not in silence, but in thunder.