Written by Rebecca Hollman
Photos from the Camp Kouch website
Some festivals are built for crowds.
Some are built for production.
Camp Kouch is being built for something else entirely.
Announced as a three-day music and arts retreat, Camp Kouch 2026 marks the inaugural year of a new kind of gathering — one rooted in community, creativity, education, and deep connection to both sound and environment.
And if the vision comes to life the way it’s designed, this won’t feel like a first-year festival. It’ll feel like the beginning of a movement. Here’s the Festival Squad breakdown of what makes Camp Kouch different.
What Camp Kouch Is
At its core, Camp Kouch is an immersive experience built around five pillars:
Community. Sound. Education. Expression. Nature.
Rather than a traditional festival structure, the event is designed as a retreat-style environment where music exists alongside:
- Curated bass and electronic performances
- Interactive workshops and learning sessions
- Movement, wellness, and creative spaces
- Art installations and collaborative experiences
- Intentional gathering areas for connection
The goal isn’t just to attend — it’s to participate, explore, and co-create the experience with the people around you. Festival Squad take: think less “festival weekend,” more “creative reset with a soundtrack.”
The Setting: Woodlands Nature Reserve
Location matters for a gathering like this — and Camp Kouch chose well.
Held at Woodlands Nature Reserve in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, the event takes place within a 6,000-acre private sanctuary featuring:
- Serene lakes
- Lush coastal forests
- Miles of scenic trails
- Wide-open natural landscapes
Just minutes from Charleston, the reserve offers a rare balance: true nature immersion without being completely off the grid. Expect sunrise walks, hammock hangs, and late-night sound drifting through the trees — the kind of environment that makes the experience feel grounded instead of overstimulating.
Sound Meets Intention
Musically, Camp Kouch leans into the experimental bass, downtempo, and space bass ecosystem — but the programming is built around flow, not hierarchy.
Rather than a headliner-heavy format, the weekend focuses on:
- Curated artist journeys instead of quick festival sets
- Collaborative moments and potential B2Bs
- Downtempo mornings and deep late-night sound
- A lineup designed for immersion, not stage-hopping
Festival Squad prediction: the most memorable sets will happen when you weren’t planning to be there.
The Kouch Kollective: The Culture Behind It
Driving the vision is the Kouch Kollective — a creative network of artists, producers, visual designers, and community builders focused on keeping the experience artist-first and people-centered.
Their influence shows up in:
- Thoughtful stage environments and visual storytelling
- Community guidelines built around inclusivity and respect
- Workshop programming that supports growth and learning
- A culture that prioritizes connection over clout
In a scene that’s growing fast, the Kollective’s mission is simple: keep it intentional, keep it welcoming, and keep the focus on the people who make the culture what it is.
Why the First Year Matters
Launching a new festival right now isn’t easy — which is exactly why Camp Kouch feels worth paying attention to. The inaugural year sets the tone:
- Smaller, more connected crowd energy
- Early community buy-in
- The chance to help shape the culture from the ground up
Festival Squad tip: first-year festivals often become the ones people talk about years later — “before it blew up.”
Who This Is For
Camp Kouch is your space if you:
- Prefer intimate gatherings over massive crowds
- Love experimental bass, downtempo, and immersive sound
- Want workshops and creative experiences alongside music
- Value nature, connection, and intentional community
If you’re looking for mainstage chaos, this isn’t your weekend. If you’re looking for presence, creativity, and deep sound — you’re exactly where you need to be.
Final Take
Camp Kouch 2026 isn’t trying to compete with the biggest festivals. It’s trying to create something more meaningful.
A first-year gathering.
A 6,000-acre natural sanctuary.
A community-first vision built around sound, art, and connection.
Sometimes the most special events aren’t the biggest ones. They’re the ones built with intention from day one. We’ll see you in the woods.