Stephan Th­an­scheidt

For well over a decade, Stephan Thanscheidt has been the CEO of FKP Scorpio, one of Europe’s leading live entertainment promoters, and has played a key role in shaping the lineups for some of Europe’s most renowned festivals since 2009. Together with founder Folkert Koopmans, he developed FKP Scorpio into one of Europe’s largest event organizers, with offices 12 across 10 countries and a team of more than 400 employees.

In addition to leading the company, Stephan and his Hamburg-based team oversee the bookings for festivals such as Hurricane, Southside, M’era Luna, Deichbrand, Greenfield and many more. Beyond curating outstanding lineups, Stephan’s greatest motivation lies in fostering spaces of connection and freedom, where concerts and festivals serve as bridges across the growing divides in society. On the political front, Stephan advocates for the live entertainment industry as a board member of the German Promoter’s Association (BDKV), ensuring that one of the often-underestimated economic sectors has a voice in policymaking.

FKP Scorpio’s artist roster features global icons such as The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran, while also nurturing exciting emerging talent. Bands like Idles hold a special place in Stephan’s heart, and he actively supports them as a promoter. In addition to tours, festivals, and performances ranging from intimate club shows to massive stadium events, FKP Scorpio’s diverse portfolio encompasses family entertainment, spoken word, comedy, and the gourmet variety theatre Palazzo. The company has also brought record-breaking exhibitions to an ever-expanding audience, including Jurassic World and The Formula 1 Exhibition.