Iron Maiden's Epic Return to Paris

A Night to Remember

Iron Maiden had already played two sold-out nights at La Défense Arena in July 2025. Those shows drew crowds of approximately 75,000 across both dates. However, the June 22 show was different. It was a lone date, specifically chosen for filming. “We chose a covered stadium to enjoy the best of the production and a fantastic audience, as Paris has always been for us,” the band shared on social media ahead of the show.

To create a cleaner visual and reduce distractions, phones in the pit were placed in locked Yondr pouches. Fans kept their devices sealed in a restricted area. This policy encouraged a noticeably old-school behavior. Instead of thousands of illuminated screens lighting up whenever Eddie appeared, the crowd focused on the stage. It was the perfect environment for a set with serious intent.

Evergrey Opens the Night

Swedish progressive-metal act Evergrey took the stage at 7:25 PM. Their darker, atmospheric approach presented a familiar challenge. Here was an act whose sound is not easily reduced to accessible radio or festival-friendly shorthand, performing in a room built for the headliner. Nevertheless, Evergrey’s melodic weight and structural ambition set a serious tone for the evening.

The Show Before the Dark

Iron Maiden burst onto the stage at 8:50 PM to euphoric cheers. Animated screens swept from the streets of London to Paris, showcasing the iconic Eiffel Tower. The set opened, just like the July 2025 shows, with “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” This choice immediately signaled that this was not a greatest-hits exercise. It established purpose and chronological intent: a setlist anchored in the 1980–1992 Paul Di’Anno and early Bruce Dickinson catalog.

“Wrathchild” and “Killers” followed before a giant Eddie, axe in hand, strode onto the stage. The audience erupted into delirium. The band continued with “Phantom of the Opera,” one of the set’s compositional peaks. Its Steve Harris-penned passages still had the power to captivate a room of 40,000. “The Number of the Beast,” bolstered by pyrotechnic effects, shifted into mass-participation territory. The spoken-word intro and chorus were answered by a crowd that had committed the responses from years of previous shows.

The set then ventured into rarer territory. “Infinite Dreams,” not performed since 1988, arrived as a genuine surprise. “Powerslave,” with its Egyptian-themed backdrop, launched the set toward its larger centerpiece ambitions. Then, midway through “2 Minutes to Midnight,” the venue went dark.

The Blackout

Less than an hour into Iron Maiden’s set, a general power outage plunged La Défense Arena into total darkness mid-song. Whistles rose as fans stared in disbelief. After roughly ten minutes, the venue’s service lighting came on, but the stage remained in complete blackout—no sound, no lights, no video. A voice over the PA announced that a blackout was affecting the surrounding neighborhood, and the cause was unknown. Some attendees speculated it was connected to the ongoing heat wave and the demands placed on the city’s electrical grid. A portion of the crowd left the venue, uncertain whether the show would continue.

Just a bad rending of a great album: sorry guys.

Those who stayed had to wait approximately an hour before the concert resumed. When Bruce Dickinson returned to the stage, he faced the difficult task of telling the audience (in French) that the show would need to conclude by 11:30 PM due to the venue’s curfew. The crowd responded with lots of "boo's." Dickinson was visibly frustrated and made no secret of his preference for the Bercy venue—the older Paris hall Iron Maiden had used for many years before moving to La Défense Arena.

The Resumption

Iron Maiden pressed on with trademark determination. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”—the 13-minute Powerslave epic—anchored the post-outage set. Its slow-building atmospheric passages gave way to a dual-guitar climax. Then came “Run to the Hills.” The crowd sang the chorus in full unison as Dickinson darted from one side of the stage to the other. Steve Harris pointed his bass at the crowd while Janick Gers tumbled through his characteristic footwork near the amps.

“Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” followed before “The Trooper” returned Eddie to the stage. This time, he wore the famous red tunic of the British Army. Dickinson raised the English flag, then the French flag, to a crowd that responded with undiminished enthusiasm despite everything. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” brought the main set to a close. Dickinson appeared in a cage, condemned, while the twin-guitar climax built to the song’s cathartic peak. The band closed with the title track, “Iron Maiden.” Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Bruce Dickinson, and drummer Simon Dawson took their final bow.

The three planned encore tracks—“Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark,” and “Wasted Years”—were not played. The curfew made them impossible.

What Was Being Served: Eddie’s Dive Bar and Venue Concessions

In the days surrounding the concert, Iron Maiden operated a themed pop-up called Eddie’s Dive Bar near La Défense Arena on June 20, 21, and 22. The bar served Trooper Progressive Lager Beer—the official Iron Maiden lager for the European part of the tour brewed by Crew Republic in Germany—alongside Darkest Red, a bottled red wine released under the Iron Maiden label. The menu also included pizza and small bites, and limited-edition merchandise was available on-site.

Inside the arena itself, the standard venue concession stands offered a range of hot and cold food and drinks. Kombacher beer was served at the general stand, but there was something interesting in the back wall: a Trooper Progressive lager self-serve machine. A user only had to put a cup in the machine, and it filled it with Trooper beer once paid for. There were also servers with kegs on their backs walking the floor serving Trooper beer. Customers had the option to buy an assortment of Iron Maiden collector cups with the beer.

No liquor was being served due to the excessive heat. VIP ticket holders had access to an elevated beverage selection throughout the evening, including wines, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. During the one-hour power outage, a visible portion of the audience made use of the concession areas to rehydrate while waiting for the show to resume. This was one of the more surreal images of an already unusual night.

Full Setlist — June 22, 2026

• Doctor Doctor (UFO) — tape intro

• The Ides of March — tape intro

• Murders in the Rue Morgue

• Wrathchild

• Killers

• Phantom of the Opera

• The Number of the Beast

• Infinite Dreams

• Powerslave

• 2 Minutes to Midnight — interrupted by power outage

• Rime of the Ancient Mariner

• Run to the Hills

• Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

• The Trooper

• Hallowed Be Thy Name

• Iron Maiden

• Encores not played (curfew): Aces High / Fear of the Dark / Wasted Years

The Legacy of Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden's influence on heavy metal is undeniable. Their unique blend of storytelling, theatricality, and musical prowess has inspired countless bands. As fans, we revel in the experience they create. Each concert is not just a performance; it's a celebration of the music we love. The connection between the band and the audience is palpable, and it’s moments like these that remind us why we are drawn to this genre.

In conclusion, the June 22 concert at La Défense Arena was a testament to Iron Maiden's enduring legacy. Despite the challenges of a power outage, the band delivered a memorable performance. The atmosphere was electric, and the audience's passion was unwavering. As we look forward to future shows, we know that Iron Maiden will continue to be at the forefront of heavy metal, pushing boundaries and creating unforgettable experiences.