Iron Maiden at Paris La Défense Arena: show times, opening act... all the practical details

Iron Maiden returns this summer to Paris La Défense Arena with a unique show to be lived this Monday, June 22, as part of their Run for Your Lives World Tour 2026. The legendary British band will use the occasion to celebrate 50 years in the business and are set to once again shake the walls of Europe’s largest indoor venue. So, when should the doors to the Francilienne venue open? What time does the evening start? Who's opening? How can you get to the venue by public transport? What items are forbidden? Here are all the practical details you need to know before heading to Paris La Défense Arena for this new Iron Maiden concert in the capital!

Heavy metal will ring out this Monday, June 22, 2026 in Europe’s largest indoor arena! The legendary British band Iron Maiden checks into Paris La Défense Arena, less than a year after their two explosive shows in the very same hall in the Île-de-France region. A cornerstone of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) alongside Judas Priest, Saxon, Motörhead, Def Leppard and Girlschool, Iron Maiden continues to write its history, 50 years after forming in east London by the bassist Steve Harris.

Since May 23, Iron Maiden has been back on the road for their Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026. After stops in Athens, Sofia, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Milan, and Clisson for the Hellfest, the British group returns to the French capital with a single show scheduled for June 22, 2026 in Europe’s largest indoor arena.

So, which tracks will be performed by Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray and the others? To find out, be there at Paris La Défense Arena.

As for the rest, when will the venue doors open on June 22? Who’s the opening act? What time does the show start? AEG Presents France has unveiled the practical, must-know details fans need to plan their visit.

Doors to Paris La Défense Arena open to the general public at 5:30 PM, while the première partie takes the stage at 7:25 PM. Iron Maiden will take the stage at 8:50 PM.

Iron Maiden at Paris La Défense Arena in 2026: who will be the opening act?
After setting Paris La Défense Arena alight on July 19, Iron Maiden will return to the venue in the Paris region on June 22, 2026. Before Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, and the rest of the band take to the stage to perform their countless heavy metal hits, the audience at Paris La Défense Arena will be treated to an opening act. So, who will it be? Who will have the honor of opening for Iron Maiden in Paris in 2026? We'll tell you everything! [Read more]

Iron Maiden in Paris: the concert program

5:30 PM: Doors open
7:25 PM: Opening act
8:50 PM: Iron Maiden

As doors won’t open until 5:15 p.m., Paris La Défense Arena is urging concertgoers not to arrive too early to avoid a long wait outside, especially since there’s no shaded area at the exterior. A hat and sunscreen are advised for the queue. On the plus side, the venue itself is air-conditioned, a welcome comfort as heat is expected to peak again this Monday.

How to get to Paris La Défense Arena

Another piece of information concerns transport to and from the venue. In view of the large crowds expected, the arena invites spectators to use public transport to get to and from the Paris La Défense Arena.

As a reminder, you can take metro line 1 (La Défense stop), RER A (La Défense stop or Nanterre-Préfecture stop), RER E (Nanterre-la-Folie or La Défense Grande Arche stop) or tramway T2 (La Défense stop), as well as Transilien lines L and U ( La Défense stop).

Paris La Défense Arena: how to get to the venue? What you need to know before coming
Europe's largest indoor venue is located in Paris, not far from the Grande Arche de La Défense. Throughout the year, the Paris La Défense Arena hosts numerous concerts, shows and sporting events. Planning to go there soon? Here are a few practical tips to help you prepare your visit and get to the Paris La Défense Arena easily. [Read more]

Find your entrance

Paris La Défense Arena uses multiple entry points, which vary depending on your seat. Moreover, “the color-coded access shown on your ticket (yellow, red or violet) helps you orient yourself, but it does not represent a mandatory checkpoint at the security checks,” explains the venue in the Île-de-France, which advises you to head straight to the entrances listed below:

Entrance to the pit will be via gate 33;
Access to Level 1 will be through entrances 5, 34 and 60;
Access to Level 4 will be via entrances 8 and 56;
Access to the loges and lounges will be through entrances 21, 39 and 55;
Access for people with disabilities and those with reduced mobility will be via entrance 38.

Concert filmed, phones banned in the pit

Last year, Iron Maiden asked Paris La Défense Arena’s spectators to put their phones away and fully enjoy the show. This year, on their return to Hauts-de-Seine, the band goes even further. For fans with pit-only tickets, phones will be sealed in a secure pouch as they enter, to be kept on them and only opened at the end of the concert. Note that designated areas will be available (outside the pit) if needed. For the seated section, there’s no special pouch, but everyone is still urged to keep their phones stowed during the performance.

Another bit of info: this concert at Paris La Défense Arena will be filmed! “The band will also be back in Paris to film its concert “Run For Your Lives” for our fans and for posterity! We’ve chosen an indoor stadium to make the most of the production and to host a fantastic crowd, just as Paris has always been for us,” the band announced on its social networks.

Iron Maiden at Paris La Défense Arena in 2026: a concert filmed without telephones
Iron Maiden has announced the extension of its "Run For Your Lives World Tour", with a new concert scheduled for the Paris La Défense Arena on Monday June 22, 2026. For this new show, the British band's fourth at this Parisian venue, Iron Maiden has announced that the experience will be phone-free. In other news, the concert will be filmed! We tell you all about it. [Read more]

Forbidden items

On its website, Paris La Défense Arena reveals the list of prohibited items at concerts, “in accordance with the legislation governing public-access venues.” The following are forbidden: “any dangerous or illicit item, bulky, that could be used as a projectile and could pose a danger to spectators, visitors, artists or could be diverted from its intended use for malicious purposes,” such as containers and receptacles (including metal or glass water bottles), accessories with studs, backpacks and travel bags, helmets, alcoholic beverages, non‑retractable umbrellas, any rolling object, and cameras and video recorders without authorization.

However, for this concert, laptops and tablets up to 15 inches, retractable umbrellas and the shoulder bags are allowed. Due to the hot weather expected, the venue also permits fans (under 50 cm) and mini fans. Note that plastic or cardboard water bottles are allowed up to 50 cl. You can find all of this information on the Paris La Défense Arena site.

Leave the room

Once the concert is over, we recommend that you return to Paris via La Défense station (Line 1 / RER A).

For all other directions, go to La Défense station for the Transilien L line. " If you're taking public transport to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Cergy and Poissy, you can get to Nanterre Préfecture station and take the RER A," adds Paris La Défense Arena.

Eddie's Dive Bar in Paris

We should note that Iron Maiden is reopening its pop-up bar for the occasion. For three days only, come and discover the Eddie's Dive Bar!

Iron Maiden: Eddie’s Dive Bar returns to Paris for a three-day run
Attention Iron Maiden fans! The legendary British heavy metal outfit has announced the reopening of its "Eddie’s Dive Bar" in Paris, timed to the Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026. Expect, among other things, exclusive merchandise. So when and where should you head to push open the doors of this pop-up bar in Iron Maiden’s image? We’ve got you covered! [Read more]