Nicko McBrain Hits the Road With Iron Maiden Cover Band

The former Iron Maiden drummer is touring with his Titanium Tart cover group in 2026.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:40pm

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An extreme macro photograph of a highly reflective, metallic surface with dramatic shadows and highlights, capturing the visceral energy of heavy metal music in an abstract, textural composition.The glittering, industrial textures of heavy metal music come to life in this abstract close-up portrait.Sanford Today

Former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has announced a five-show tour in 2026 with his Iron Maiden cover band, Titanium Tart. The run will take the band through Florida and into Georgia, with stops at venues like The Barn, Culture Room, and The Albatross.

Why it matters

Even though McBrain has retired from touring with Iron Maiden, he's still keeping busy playing the band's music with his own cover group. This shows his continued passion for the material and connection to the Iron Maiden fanbase.

The details

The Titanium Tart tour will kick off on August 29 in Sanford, Florida and wrap up on September 19 in Clearwater, Florida. In between, the band will play shows in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Atlanta. Titanium Tart has promised to play some deep cuts that Iron Maiden themselves have never performed live.

  • The Titanium Tart tour will run from August 29 to September 19, 2026.
  • Nicko McBrain retired from touring with Iron Maiden in December 2024.

The players

Nicko McBrain

The former drummer for the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, who is now touring with his own Iron Maiden cover band, Titanium Tart.

Titanium Tart

An Iron Maiden cover band led by former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain.

Simon Dawson

The current drummer for Iron Maiden, who took over drumming duties after McBrain's retirement.

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What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to seeing you soon! We're venturing out to a few new places we haven't played yet; Culture Room, The Albatross and The Loft and revisiting our devoted venues, The OCC and The Barn. Going up to Jacksonville and Atlanta is taking us out of our 'comfort zone' but you know we will still scorch the earth! Looking forward to seeing you out there!”

— Titanium Tart

“It's a possibility that when they come over here [to the U.S.], I might end up doing a show with them, just getting up and doing a song or two, or just being there. If there is a new album in the pipeline, it's a possibility I'll do a couple of tracks on the album. Yeah, who knows? We're all still part of the family, although I'm not playing the shows.”

— Nicko McBrain, Former Iron Maiden Drummer

What’s next

Fans will have to wait and see if Nicko McBrain makes any surprise appearances with Iron Maiden during their upcoming tours or on new albums.

The takeaway

Even in retirement, Nicko McBrain remains deeply connected to the Iron Maiden legacy, continuing to perform the band's music with his own cover group and leaving the door open for potential future collaborations.