Fans react as Scooter join the line-up for Download 2026

Fans have reacted to the news that legendary dance act Scooter will play Download 2026.

• READ MORE: Download boss Andy Copping on the 2025 line-up: “The festival will die if we don’t move with the times”

The long-running rock and metal festival is set to be held at Donington Park between 10-14 June, with Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park all set to headline in the first wave of names revealed.

Earlier this month, booker Kam Haq told Planet Rock that fans should expect “a massive curveball act” adding: “It’s something that people have been after for a while. People have asked for it online over and over. And this year we’re going to finally deliver it.”

Now, the rock and metal festival have unveiled hardcore techno act Scooter as the next huge name joining their line-up, sharing the news in a standalone post yesterday (November 26).

Fans have shared their opinions about Scooter’s slot at Download 2026, with some incredibly excited to catch the German group next year. “Scooter at download next year????? mate i’m gonna go mental this is the best news ever”, one fan enthused, while another proclaimed: “Anyone complaining about Scooter being at Download festival has to be the most miserable fuck ever”.

However, other fans have shared their disappointment with Scooter, with one person commenting on the Instagram announcement: “It’s a bit disappointing when you see some of the bands that download have missed out on and they book Scooter”. On Facebook, another user pointed out: “Not appropriate for download at all, I can see this rock festival turning into another reading… what happened to our monsters of rock!! Sorry but not my thing, if i wanted a rave I’d go up the mountain.”

Some have expressed excitement for Scooter but shared hesitation with their placement in the Avalanche Stage. “Why Avalanche stage its [sic] a small tent!,” one user wrote. “Its going to be absolute carnage trying to get down there”.

Meanwhile, on a Reddit thread discussing the booking, one user shared: “I can understand being disappointed by a main stage headliner. I can’t imagine being upset because an act you don’t like is on the 3rd stage. Simply don’t go see Scooter if you’re not excited by it. I’ve no interest in the several bands who might as well be BMTH tribute bands but that’s fine because I’ll just not watch them.”

Others speculated that the upset caused by Scooter’s slot was “because people had absolutely insane suggestions for the curveball when Scooter was the most obvious and dare i say “logical” (heheheh) pick”. See a range of reactions below:

Why Avalanche stage its a small tent! Its going to be absolute carnage trying to get down there.

— Chris (@chrisdjw247) November 26, 2025

scooter at download next year????? mate i’m gonna go mental this is the best news ever

— hayls (@hayleyrFoto) November 26, 2025

Anyone complaining about Scooter being at Download festival has to be the most miserable fuck ever

— mr worldwide (nancy) (@nancyctattoos) November 26, 2025

In regards to the scooter announcement, never seen a more dividing act in comment sections
byu/Inevitable_Golf_1925 indownloadfestival

Though Scooter seems like a strange choice from the festival, Download has embraced more left-field acts in recent years, including Eurodance icons Vengaboys – who pulled a huge and enthusiastic crowd last year – and Busted, who joined for Download’s 2024 edition.

In December 2024, festival boss Andy Copping explained to NME the strategy behind their 2025 lineup – and why it was important for Download to evolve.

“When we first launched Download in 2002, we just wanted to get through that year. After that, the plan became ways to make it go further and further,” he said.

“The festival has to evolve because people’s tastes and people’s expectations evolve all the time. The festival will die if we don’t move with the times, so we have to be innovative. We have to see what’s going on across social media and analyse the way people are consuming music in the TikTok age.

“All of that is super important. Luckily, we’ve put together a very wide and varied young team who are giving input into what they feel the festival should be. We also talk to the fans all the time and ask them what they want to see. We seek out feedback on what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. From that, we’ve found a formula that’s been working for us.”

The post Fans react as Scooter join the line-up for Download 2026 appeared first on NME.