Faithful to their appointment with the Athens audience, led by 67-year-old Bruce Dickinson, the band stepped onto the stage at 8:40 p.m. and, with songs such as “Number of the Beast” and “Phantom of the Opera,” showed their… fierce side.
Their devoted audience went wild throughout the concert, with around 50,000 people — according to reports on social media – singing the band’s greatest hits along with them.
The highlight, of course, almost like a…mystical ritual, was the moment when the legendary “Fear of the Dark” echoed through the stadium.
— Παρδαλόν ερίφιον (@Zr4RNmD9srFOWKQ) May 23, 2026
Iron Maiden fans had arrived early at OAKA for the highly anticipated concert, part of the band’s global “Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026.”
As the start of the concert approached, spectators filled the area outside the stadium.
At exactly 5:00 p.m., the gates opened and attendees rushed to secure their spots. The turnout was impressive. From very early on, devoted fans had packed the surrounding areas, forming long lines and creating a festive atmosphere.
A group of 18-year-olds from Kallithea — Panos, Antonis, and Giorgos — had taken their place at the very front of the line early in the day, proving that Iron Maiden knows no age boundaries.
As they explained, their connection with the band began at home because “yeah, okay, that’s how we grew up,” thanks to their parents, but soon that love became personal, since “afterward we discovered them on our own too.”
Among the crowd were parents with their children, such as 15-year-old Ioanna, for whom tonight was a major milestone, as it was her first experience at such a large live concert.
“My name is Ioanna, I’m fifteen. I feel amazing. It’s my first big metal concert. My dad is a huge metalhead and I’m here because of him. I’m hoping to hear ‘Alexander the Great,’ although I don’t know if they’ll play it, as well as ‘Writing on the Wall,’ though I’m not sure about that one because it’s one of their newer songs,” she said enthusiastically.
— Παρδαλόν ερίφιον (@Zr4RNmD9srFOWKQ) May 23, 2026
For some in the group, this was their second experience, having attended the 2022 live show, while for the others it was the first time seeing Bruce Dickinson and company up close. To secure a good spot in the arena, they arrived at OAKA around “8:30 or 9 in the morning,” bringing special rain gear with them.
— Παρδαλόν ερίφιον (@Zr4RNmD9srFOWKQ) May 23, 2026
As for the songs they hoped to hear, the young fans had clear opinions. They were eager for “Alexander the Great,” although, as they admitted, “that’s the one I know they probably won’t play,” as well as “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” which they were convinced “they will play and it’s going to be insane,” while of course not forgetting classics like “Aces High” and “The Trooper.”
— Παρδαλόν ερίφιον (@Zr4RNmD9srFOWKQ) May 23, 2026
From Serres and Lamia to OAKA
A little farther down the line, Haris and Nikos, originally from Lamia and Serres respectively, had set up their own little camp outside the gates. Nikos, an experienced concertgoer, arrived at the stadium at eleven in the morning.
— Παρδαλόν ερίφιον (@Zr4RNmD9srFOWKQ) May 23, 2026
“We also helped the other guys here. At eleven o’clock we set up our little camp here. We packed everything up now — we had folding chairs and all that. Now we’re ready to go in,”
he said, even revealing his impressive concert schedule for the year:
“Me and the other guys who just left have been in the group for years. We’ve booked eight concerts this year. We’re really into it…”
Long lines from early on
The atmosphere of excitement was also vividly captured in photos from the scene by Protothema.gr. From early afternoon, huge queues had already started forming outside OAKA.
