IRON MAIDEN and organisers of the Wacken Open Air Festival 2008 have confirmed that Maiden will headline the opening night of the Wacken Open Air Festival on the Thursday, July 31st.

According to a press release, "this is the first of the three nights of the festival and will be a spectacular opening as this will be the first time that Iron Maiden have performed at this international heavy metal gathering which features many of the best metal bands from around the world. This is also the ONLY show that Iron Maiden will be playing in Germany this year on the Somewhere Back In Time World Tour which will feature songs almost exclusively from their classic '80s albums and a stage production based on the Egyptian concept of the legendary Powerslave Tour. Tickets for the festival are on sale and are already at a record high at this stage so make sure you get along to the Wacken official website or follow the links below to be able to order your tickets now so as not to be disappointed and miss this mega event."

February

1 - Mumbai, India - Bandra Kurla Complex
4 - Perth, Australia - Burswood Dome
6 - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
7 - Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
9 - Sydney, Australia - Acer Arena
10 - Sydney, Australia - Acer Arena
12 - Brisbane, Australia - Entertainment Centre
15 - Yokohama, Japan - Pacifico Yokohama
16 - Tokyo, Japan - Messe
19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
21 - Guadalajara, Mexico - Auditoria Telmex
22 - Monterrey, Mexico - Monterrey Arena
24 - Mexico City, Mexico - Sports Palace
26 - San Jose, Costa Rica - Saprisa Stadium
28 - Bogota, Columbia - Simon Bolivar Park

March

2 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Palmeiras Stadium
4 - Curitiba, Brazil - Pedreira Paulo Leminski
5 - Porto Allegre, Brazil - Gigantinho
7 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Ferrofcarril Oeste Stadium
9 - Santiago, Chile - Pista Atletica
12 - Puerto Rico - San Juan Coliseo
14 - New Jersey, USA - Izod Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena)
16 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre

June

27 - Bologna, Italy - Arena Parco Nord (Gods Of Metal Festival)

July

1 - Paris, France - Ominisport De Bercy Arena
5 - London, UK - Twickenham Rugby Stadium
9 - Lisbon, Portugal - Parque do Tejo ( Super Bock Super Rock Festival)
16 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadium
18 - Helsinki, Finland - Helsinki Olympic Stadium
19 - Tampere, Finland - Ratinan Stadion
22 - Trondheim, Norway - Lerkendalstadium
24 - Oslo, Norway - Valle Hovin
26 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium
27 - Horsens, Denmark - Horsens Gods Bane Pladsen
31 - Wachen Open Air Festival - Wacken, Germany

August

2 - Terra Vibe Park - Athens, Greece
8 - Slavia Football Stadium - Prague, Czech Republic