Record Store Day 2026 is almost here. This Saturday, April 18, lovers of vinyl all over the planet will converge on their local, independent brick and mortar record stores to shop for exclusive releases especially curated for this event.
Why should you care? Well, if you aren’t a fan of old school vinyl recordings, then you probably shouldn’t. Though much of the music which will be on available on Saturday is being packaged and presented in new and exciting ways, you can hear most of the actual songs through any number of streaming services.
But there may still be a wide variety of reasons why this day could draw your interest. What follows is a brief primer on RSD26 – a few pointers that may make your vinyl experience – should you care to indulge – a bit more rewarding.
Record Store Day 2026 is just a few days away
First – what is it?
Record Store Day was launched back in 2008 when local, independent record stores were trying to find a way to offer something beyond what music lovers could get from streaming services. Store owners worked with labels to create exclusive products.
Albums, EPs, singles…. Anything was fair game. They might be remastered or expanded collections that included demos and rarities. They might be live shows that had never been officially released. There were outtakes and alternate recordings for fans who wanted to do a deep dive into some of their favorite artists.
The packaging was also upgraded with new photos and liner notes. Many albums were pressed on splashy colored vinyl.
The concept soon caught on and grew into an international phenomenon, which is where we find ourselves today.
Why should you care?
I already began to answer this, but let me go a bit further here. Fans of vinyl may prefer the tonal quality. Ask anyone who prefers the sound of vinyl and they will describe it in their own words, but generally, they will speak of the richness and warmth of the recording. If your ears are sensitive, you can definitely hear a different atmosphere on vinyl.
But what if your ears are not that sensitive? Mine aren’t and I still like vinyl. For me, there is a nostalgic quality to physically interacting with the source of my music. Cleaning the platter and caring for it. Dropping the needle and hearing a pop. I associate that with listening to music and I enjoy it more, despite the extra effort involved.
That is purely based on my age and my background. Plenty of music fans will not share that feeling but still may want to sample the goods on Record Store Day.
Maybe it’s the art work. Album covers have become collector’s item, valued in their own right as pieces of art worthy of display. I know of at least one release this year that will restore the original album art to the RSD26 release. It was shelved decades ago by skittish record execs.
For me, the liner notes are almost always a draw. Many releases will have expanded discussions of the music that comes with the perspective gained through time. The photos are often very evocative as well.
But if I’m being completely honest, I buy albums on RSD for the same reason I buy tee shirts at concerts. I don’t need any more tee shirts. But I am fully aware that bands rely on merch sale to make a living and I want the ones I value to keep making music. I feel the same way about the albums I buy. They are luxury items. I do not need them, but if I can set aside some money to buy them, that is how I choose to spend a part of my discretionary budget.
I want local record stores to stay in business because I like going into them. An RSD album is likely to cost about the same as a concert tee shirt. I may not need either, but if I like the shirt or the album and if I can afford it, I feel good about spending my money on something I appreciate.
What will be available this year?
There are about 400 releases scheduled for this year. You can find a complete list here.
They range from double albums to singles. There is a collection of Ma Rainey recordings that date back 100 years. There is a 7” recording of Olivia Dean's “The Man I Need” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge done just last year. There is jazz from Yusef Lateef recorded in 1975 and alternate versions of a couple of hits from KATSEYE.
There is punk and metal and country and folk and anything and everything in between. Live albums galore from Tony Bennett to Blur – from Ramones to Snarky Puppy. Literally, something for every ear.
Tips to make you day more enjoyable
Not every record store participates so check before you make the trip. And no store gets copies of everything. My local store will be selling about one-quarter of the those 400-ish releases. So check your store’s list as well.
Many stores will expand their standard hours due to the crowds. They may also have to restrict admission. This will be true for smaller stores. There may be lines. But my experience is that the lines move quickly so a little patience will pay off.
Go in with a budget in mind. If you’re like me, you will enter with five albums targeted and then find 15 more that you just have to have while browsing. Of course you are free to spend however you see fit, but I would suggest a little restraint.
And – I cannot stress this enough – if you are partnered in any manner, choose something that you know your partner will enjoy. That goes a long way toward smoothing over why you spent twice your agreed upon budget.
What will I be looking for?
My store will not have a lot of releases that I want, but since there are plenty that they will in fact have, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
Here are the ten albums I will be looking for at my local store come Saturday:
Bad Brains Live by Bad Brains – punk perfection from one of my hometown icons
Tony Bennett MTV Unplugged by Tony Bennett – a double-album of his 1994 set
Live at Easy Street Records, Vol II by Brandi Carlile – Carlile’s return to her hometown in support of her Returning to Myself album
Dream a Little Dream by Mama Cass – an expanded edition of her 1969 solo debut
Songs From the Film by Tommy Keene – another hometown hero, these are the original mixes of Keene’s major label debut. A power pop gem.
Modern Lovers by the Modern Lovers – celebrating its 50th anniversary, released with the Modern Lovers logo printed on the disc.
Live in San Francisco by Ramones – A double-album of live Ramones in their heyday? Yes, please.
Live From Asbury Park 2024 by Bruce Springsteen – Five albums worth of live Bruce.
Jackson C. Frank by Jackson C. Frank – the only original studio album of a ‘60s folk rock legend, produced by Paul Simon.
Tales Told by Dead Friends by Mayday Parade – the debut EP of the Florida pop punk/emo giants. Printed on orange vinyl.
That’s my list – unless I suddenly find that a copy of Motorhead’s Lemmy’s Birthday Party snuck its way into my store. Or the Muffs, or Lunachicks, John Prine or the Blasters, or … the list goes on and on.
Enjoy RSD26.
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