Judas Priest, Faithkeepers 2026 tour brings multiple metal nights to Germany
Published on 08/21/2026 at 07:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Judas Priest keep their heavy metal machine rolling into summer 2026 with the Faithkeepers tour across Europe. According to German ticketing provider Eventim, the band will play three headline shows in Halle, Neu-Ulm and Sankt Goarshausen as part of the run.
German dates on the Faithkeepers tour
The strongest anchor for fans in Germany are three confirmed Faithkeepers shows. Eventim lists Judas Priest at Halle Messe Arena in Halle (Saale) on July 26, 2026, at Wiley Sportpark in Neu-Ulm on August 6, 2026, and at the Loreley Freilichtbühne in Sankt Goarshausen on August 23, 2026, all under the Faithkeepers Tour banner.
Metal1.info and Neckbreaker highlight the same three dates, stressing that Halle, Neu-Ulm and Sankt Goarshausen are part of a wider European itinerary and that presale for the German shows started as early as December 2025. Both outlets underline that Judas Priest are bringing a full evening of classic and newer material to midsize arenas and a historic open-air stage on the Rhine.
How the 2026 route expands across Europe
Beyond Germany, the Faithkeepers tour stretches across Eastern and Western Europe. Rock And Roll Garage and AFM Records outline dates at Bobfest in Mönchengladbach on July 25, Wacken Open Air in Wacken on July 31, and Re-Load Festival in Bremen on August 14, adding further German festival touchpoints around the three stand-alone headline shows.
The same sources list Warsaw’s Torwar hall in Poland on July 28, Ostravar Arena in Ostrava, Czechia on August 2, Tipos or Nepala Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia on August 4, and club and arena shows in Tilburg (Netherlands), Carhaix-Plouguer (France), Pamplona and Valencia (Spain). AFM Records confirms that the routing continues into Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary before moving through several Italian cities and finishing with Switzerland, France and Belgium.
Tour, charts and classics from Judas Priest at a glance
Fans who want more context on Judas Priest’s touring history, chart records and studio albums can find further coverage and updates in our internal archive and on the band’s official site.
Special guests and festival context
For the German dates, Metal1.info points out a detailed package of support acts. Halle Messe Arena on July 26, 2026 is announced with Dirkschneider as special guest, while Neu-Ulm on August 6 features Dirkschneider and Battle Beast. At the Loreley Freilichtbühne on August 23, Judas Priest will be joined by Dominum and Thundermother, giving each German night a multi-band line-up anchored by a classic metal headliner.
RockHard and Rock And Roll Garage add that the band will also play several major European festivals during the same period, including Wacken Open Air in Schleswig-Holstein, Re-Load Festival in Bremen and Motorcultor in France. This places the German shows within a broader festival-heavy summer, where Judas Priest appear both in curated packages and as the main draw in open-air settings.
Chart records and German relevance of Invincible Shield
Judas Priest’s current live presence follows the success of their 2024 studio album Invincible Shield. Sony Music’s European label communication confirms that the record gave the band their first-ever number one on Germany’s Official Album Charts, compiled by GfK, one week after release in March 2024. The same statement notes that previous album Firepower peaked at number two and sold more than 93,000 copies in Germany.
GfK’s Official German Charts database lists Invincible Shield with a chart entry dated March 15, 2024 and a peak position of number one. Over subsequent weeks the album remained on the German chart, underlining that the band’s decision to anchor the Faithkeepers tour with several German shows builds on a strengthened fan base and sales footprint in the country.
How the work sounds and fits the catalog
Invincible Shield, released globally on March 8, 2024 via Columbia and Epic, is described in label and press material as the nineteenth studio album by Judas Priest. It combines twin-guitar riffs from Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton, high-register vocals by Rob Halford and tight drumming by Scott Travis, continuing the band’s signature blend of classic heavy metal and modern production.
The album follows 2018’s Firepower and earlier landmarks like British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance and Painkiller. Across these works Judas Priest helped define metal with sharp riff writing, anthemic choruses and a theatrical stage presentation, elements that are expected to shape the Faithkeepers set list alongside newer songs from Invincible Shield.
Where Judas Priest currently stand
As of August 21, 2026, Judas Priest’s next officially confirmed live date in Germany is their Faithkeepers show at Loreley Freilichtbühne in Sankt Goarshausen on August 23, 2026, as listed by Eventim and multiple tour-announcement reports.
Judas Priest at a glance
- Act: Judas Priest
- Genre: Heavy metal
- Origin: Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Active since: 1969
- Lineup: Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar, studio), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass), Scott Travis (drums)
- Label: Columbia Records / Epic Records
- Key works: British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Painkiller (1990), Firepower (2018)
- Current album/single: Invincible Shield, released March 8, 2024
- Charts / certifications: Invincible Shield reached number one on the Official German Album Charts on March 15, 2024; Firepower previously peaked at number two and has sold over 93,000 copies in Germany.
- Next live date: August 23, 2026 – Loreley Freilichtbühne, Sankt Goarshausen, Germany
Frequently asked questions about Judas Priest
When will Judas Priest play in Germany in summer 2026?
Judas Priest are scheduled for Halle Messe Arena in Halle (Saale) on July 26, 2026, Wiley Sportpark in Neu-Ulm on August 6, 2026 and Loreley Freilichtbühne in Sankt Goarshausen on August 23, 2026 as part of their Faithkeepers tour.
What is Judas Priest’s most recent studio album?
The band’s latest studio album is Invincible Shield, released globally on March 8, 2024 via Columbia and Epic after a Japan release on March 6 through Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
How did Invincible Shield perform on the German charts?
According to GfK’s Official German Album Charts and Sony Music, Invincible Shield debuted at number one on March 15, 2024, marking Judas Priest’s first-ever chart-topping album in Germany.
Who plays guitar for Judas Priest on the current tour?
On current tours Judas Priest rely on Richie Faulkner as primary live guitarist alongside Rob Halford, Ian Hill and Scott Travis, while Glenn Tipton contributes in the studio and appears live only for selected songs because of health-related limitations.
Which classic albums are typically represented in Judas Priest’s set lists?
Faithkeepers tour reports and past set lists show regular inclusions from British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance and Painkiller, alongside newer material from Firepower and Invincible Shield.
This article was created with AI assistance and checked by our editors. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice; correction hints are welcome via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.
