Rockers Who Toured in 1986 and Are Touring Again in 2026

A look back at 1986 as several legendary rock acts announce 2026 tours, revisiting a landmark year in metal history. Judas Priest launched the Fuel for Life tour on May 2, 1986, supporting Turbo, with a futuristic stage and a legacy captured in Priest... Live! and Electric Eye videos. Iron Maiden’s Somewhere in Time era carried into Somewhere on Tour through 1987 with a visually ambitious stage. Rush kicked off their Fifty Something world tour in 1986, including a June 7 Los Angeles date and a later European leg. Metallica’s Damage Inc. tour ran 1986-87, marred by Cliff Burton’s Sept. 27, 1986 bus accident, after which the band returned to the road six weeks later. In 2026, these acts tease renewed runs such as Judas Priest’s Faithkeepers, Iron Maiden’s global Run For Your Lives circuit, Rush’s continued legacy, and Metallica’s ongoing momentum.