Saxon have announced the first U.K. and Ireland leg of their “Gods of Thunder” world tour, with further international dates to be revealed in the coming months. The 11-date run spans February 13–27, 2027, and will feature the return of the band’s legendary 30-foot mechanized Eagle stage prop for all shows except Cardiff, where venue restrictions apply. The band will also revive their full “Castles & Eagles” stage production.
The mechanized Eagle was originally constructed in the early 1980s by Midlands-based company LSD, built using airport runway landing lights, as Saxon prepared to tour their seminal Denim and Leather album. It became an enduring symbol of the band and inspired the title of their acclaimed 1982 U.K. Top 5 live albums: The Eagle Has Landed. Frontman Biff Byford said, “We wanted to make the ‘Gods of Thunder’ U.K. and Ireland tour extra special. And what better way than to fly our beloved Saxon Eagle again… Get ready for take-off!” Tickets go on sale June 26 at 9 a.m. via saxon747.com.
The full schedule is:
- Feb. 13 — Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
- Feb. 14 — O2 Academy, Glasgow
- Feb. 16 — Telegraph Building, Belfast
- Feb. 17 — 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
- Feb. 19 — O2 Apollo, Manchester
- Feb. 20 — O2 City Hall, Newcastle
- Feb. 21 — City Hall, Sheffield
- Feb. 23 — The Great Hall, Cardiff
- Feb. 24 — Beacon, Bristol
- Feb. 25 — O2 Guildhall, Southampton
- Feb. 27 — Eventim Apollo, London
The tour supports Saxon’s forthcoming 25th studio album, due January 22, 2027 — a date Byford revealed exclusively to France’s Last Ride podcast. Fans will be able to pre-order the record in early September, with the first single and video expected the same month. Producer Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Exodus, Accept) finished mixing the album in January 2025. The new record will follow Hell, Fire and Damnation (January 2024, Silver Lining Music), also produced by Sneap.
