One week 'til Record Store Day 2026! The date, the top vinyl drops, and everything else you need to know

Limited-edition stacks of wax incoming!

11 Apr 2026, 09:00 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/becky-scarrott · TechRadar

Features By Becky Scarrott published 11 April 2026

(Image credit: Shutterstock.com)

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Record Store Day is a week away — vinyl becomes available on April 18
Many US and UK stores take part (and are bound by official RSD rules)
The best drops? Depends on your taste, but it'll be first come, first served
…and available in-store on the day only — until the Monday night after RSD

Dyed-in-the-wool vinyl collectors already know the date: Record Store Day (RSD) got circled in their diaries early doors. But you're not too late at all — the (arguable) beauty of RSD is that it's an in-person, in-store thing. Think of it as what Black Friday used to be, but purely for limited-edition vinyl.

So what exactly happens on Record Store Day, what's being released, and how do you get your hands on all those juicy new limited edition records? You read this missive and above all, you clear your schedule for next Saturday (April 18, 2026).

Well then, my fellow plate spinners, let's go.

Article continues below

What is Record Store Day?

(Image credit: Record Store Day (official website))

Record Store Day is a day for crate rummagers and those who work to fill said crates — the artists, the labels, the store staff, and of course, the customers.

The key to it all is The List. To explain, on Record Store Day, over 365 exclusive and limited-edition releases will line the shelves of your local record store. This year, the list includes notable releases from Wolf Alice, Olivia Dean, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

Record Store Day was conceived in 2007, when a collection of record store owners came together in the US to celebrate and publicize the unique culture of local independent vinyl shops.

The first official event took place on April 19th, 2008, and today it's marked and celebrated by thousands of record stores all over the globe. RSD's official website calls it "the biggest new music event of the past decade", and given the hundreds of limited-edition vinyl offerings that launch (and may well sell out) on the day, it's easy to see why.

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