In the south of Chile, between rivers, mountains and open skies, something special is happening. In just two editions, SummerCamp has become one of the most distinctive projects within the Chilean electronic music circuit: a gathering that brings together music, coexistence and nature with an unusual level of coherence. We spoke with its team—although team might be an overstatement for what is, in reality, a project built almost entirely by a single person—to understand how this experience comes to life, one that many now describe as the best-kept secret of the Chilean underground.
Summercamp was born as an alternative to the dominant model of electronic parties in Chile, traditionally concentrated in nightclubs and enclosed urban spaces. Its proposal starts from a different place: an extended, minimalist gathering developed in nature, where music is not just heard but lived at a different pace.
Behind the concept, production, curation and the financial risk of the project stands Aníbal Alvear, also known as DJ Vanana, the creator and sole decision-maker behind the festival. On the operational side, he is supported by Daniela Galaz, who constitutes his entire working team. This minimal, radically independent structure is a core part of Summercamp’s DNA: every artistic and logistical decision is made without intermediaries, without structural sponsors, and without external noise.
“The environment is not decoration—it’s the condition that makes Summercamp possible,” explains its creator.
The idea of a summer camp defines both the structure and the atmosphere of the festival: consecutive days, free circulation, and direct coexistence between artists and attendees. There are no elevated stages or VIP areas. DJs perform at ground level, stay for the full four days, and take part in workshops, talks, or simple conversations under the sun. This horizontality has turned Summercamp into a genuine meeting point for the scene. In its first edition, the project brought together DJs, producers, dancers, labels and cultural agents from different generations, forming a community that continues to grow.
San Fabián
The choice of San Fabián, in Chile’s Ñuble Region, is far from accidental. The location offers unique conditions: tranquillity, accessibility, and a geography that allows different areas to coexist without disrupting the environment. “The river, the mountains and the mild climate reinforce the idea of a musical retreat,” explain the organisers.
Rather than using nature as scenery, the festival works with it. Each space—pool, forest, central clearing, camping area—has its own pulse. Programming is designed according to the landscape, time of day and energy of each location. A daytime session by the water follows a different narrative than a deep night set among the trees.
This organic sequencing, built around intensity and transitions, is an essential part of Summercamp’s language.
Summercamp’s curation follows strictly musical criteria: aesthetic affinity, energetic compatibility and coherence between artists sharing space. Over four days, the festival moves across a wide spectrum that includes ambient, house, acid, electro, hip hop and techno. “The programming brings together scenes that don’t usually coexist. What matters is how the sounds dialogue and how the overall narrative is built,” says its founder.
All sound is delivered through Funktion-One systems, chosen for their precision and ability to maintain clarity over long sessions without fatigue. “Sound is the axis of the festival,” he emphasises.
Beyond live acts and DJ sets, Summercamp also includes workshops, classes, talks and creative spaces that connect disciplines such as dance, music production and visual arts. One unforgettable moment from the first edition was the house dance battles led by Visceral House, which transformed the forest into a natural cypher—blending club culture, movement and coexistence in a way rarely seen in Chile.
The result is a platform that not only celebrates Chilean electronic music but actively strengthens it through collaboration. By bringing together projects, labels and collectives from across the country, the festival fosters networks that are usually fragmented in urban contexts.
“Summercamp is committed to 100% national talent. It’s a way to showcase the sonic diversity that exists in Chile and to create a space where that coexistence feels natural.”
SummerCamp footprint
Despite its intimate scale, Summercamp has brought together a surprisingly wide range of artists from the national circuit. The first edition featured over 15 artists and welcomed around 400 attendees, a figure expected to grow by 30% this year—along with the lineup, which now exceeds 40 artists.
Support has also come from brands contributing infrastructure and logistics, including Red Bull.
2025 Edition
VANANA – DANIELA GALAZ – CHICARICA – PERSONA – DANIEL KLAUSER – BAMBA – ALEX HUB – FRANCO SAINI – NICO FERRADA – YELLOW FEVER – MELANIA WONDER – FERNANDA URBIZU – JOSEFINA DJ – JUS ED – DIMECATA
What to expect in 2026
Summercamp returns to San Fabián from February 5 to 8, 2026, with four full days of music, coexistence and activities immersed in nature. The program brings together more than 40 local projects—DJs, live acts and collectives—through a curation that moves across ambient, house, acid, electro, hip hop and techno with a narrative-driven, unpretentious approach.
Camp registration costs CLP $49,900 (limited capacity) and includes 24/7 access to stages, parties, workshops, talks, pool, forest and secure parking. On-site accommodation options are available, ranging from camping and motorhomes to group cabins.
This is an experience designed for an adult, conscious audience deeply connected to music: four days where Chilean electronic culture is lived with calm, clarity and community—far from the noise of the city.
Minimalism, community and beauty: three words that capture the essence of the project.
Summercamp does not seek mass appeal or spectacle, but clarity. A sonic retreat in the heart of summer—a pause among mountains where Chilean music breathes at its own rhythm.
FANTASNA – YADAK – DIEGORS – MELANIA WONDER – MATIAS RIVERA – YIH CAPSULE – VALENTINA VILLARROEL – LOVSHAI – NABUCODONOSOR – FCO MARTINEZ – NICO FERRADA – DJ F1 – VANANA – JOSEFINA – FERNANDA URBIZU – FRANCO SAINI – ISLA MANTICORA – BELE COX – DANIELA GALAZ – FLAKODIABLO – EGGGLUB – RUSSELL – BAJO RIESGO – NATALIA PASTOR – ANDREA PAZ – DANIEL KLAUSER – FORERO – PICHILEMU COLLECTIVE – STUPID WAY – PABLO PAI – MAMBE – COTE BLANLOT – YELLOW FEVER – DIMECATA – GABRIEL ENGEL – MICHELLE TIJOUX – CHARLIE FK – ROBERTO LAGOS – MATIAS HERNAN – NICO CASTRO – MO LARENAS
