When Record Store Day started out in 2007, it really did feel like vinyl might be on the way out: thousands of independent music traders were closing their doors as fans fled to cheaper (but less magical) digital ways of consuming their fave bands. These days, it’s more like a victory lap for the fantastic record shops that have created whole scenes around themselves, and become sites of pilgrimage for loyal customers.
This year’s event falls on Saturday April 18, and as ever, it’ll be a stellar excuse to beat a path towards your local store for exclusive releases, special gigs, and perks including free bevvies.
This year’s exclusive record list includes limited editions from massive music industry names, whether they’re established legends like Black Sabbath and Madonna or hyped contemporary acts like Charli xcx, Pinkpantheress and CMAT. Queue up at your fave store to get your hands on a copy: many will be open early for eager fans to get in there fast.
But you don’t need to fill your tote with fresh vinyl to get in on the RSD 2026 fun. There’ll be special gigs, surprise guests, and dance floor-filling sounds at stores and bars across London, all designed to celebrate the dark miracle of vinyl. Read on for the best ways to get into the groove.
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The 10 best Record Store Day 2026 events in London
1. Record Store Day at Rough Trade
No record store pilgrimage to London is complete without a visit to Rough Trade. The indie music label’s eclectic Brick Lane HQ, Rough Trade East, has been a vinyl mecca since the noughties, with a dizzying array of records to rummage through, as well as a cafe and gig space. Famous for its early evening gigs, it’s going all out for RSD this year with live music at its pop-up from 11am, including a headline set from performance pop-punk/synth-pop outfit Daytime TV at 7pm. At Notting Hill branch Rough Trade West, the line-up features Irish guitar band Cardinals, and indie singer Matt Maltese. And as usual, both branches will be open from 8am for eager crate-diggers to get their kicks.
Rough Trade East and West. Sat Apr 18. Free.
Did you see that Rough Trade is taking over the Southbank Centre to celebrate the label’s 50th birthday?
2. Hidden Grooves x Dusty Knuckle RSD Record Fair
It isn’t just record shops getting in on the action this RSD. Sexy Shoreditch listening bar Hidden Grooves is showing off its crate-digging credentials by hosting a mini record fair featuring stock curated by Alfie Panaiotis, label head at Heavenly Sweetness and founder of Hackney Wick’s Rook Records, and Scottish DJ The Nightlark, who runs electronic label Paradise Palms Records. Discogs ultras will be able to fuel their browsing with sarnies from celebrated Dalston bakery the Dusty Knuckle, which will be running a pop-up where customers can secure a free surprise vinyl with every sandwich purchase (while stocks last!), and the party will continue into the night with house cocktails and DJ sets from former Klaxons frontman Jamie Reynolds.
Hidden Grooves, 45 Curtain Road. Sat Apr 18. Free.
3. Record Store Day at The Blue Posts and The Flamingo Club
Soho has a storied musical heritage, from Berwick Street’s ‘Golden Mile of Vinyl’, Denmark Street’s historic music shops to the legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scotts. Two venues that have been part of the area’s long-running musical tapestry are The Blue Posts on Berwick Street and the Flamingo Club, which has reopened in Kingly Court after its original ’50s site closed. Both venues will be spinning vinyl late into the night on RSC, with the Flamingo Club inviting guest selectors including Keith Fowler, Iain Hagger, InchHigh73 and DJ Fisher, to play everything from house and disco to soul and rare groove until 3am.
The Blue Posts, 22 Berwick Street & The Flamingo Club, 50 Kingly Court. Sat April 18. Free.
4. SXSE X RSD26
Forget Texas, on RSD it’s all about south east London’s music scene. Four south of the river venues, including Camberwell record store Dash the Henge, SE5’s The Bear, The Greyhound and The Old Dispensary will once again be putting on a jam-packed line-up over the weekend with no less than 40 bands taking to their stages over two days. Get yourself a wristband and then try to fit in as many live gigs as you can. There’ll be everything from dark garage from Doctor Doctor to Portuguese psych fusion from Rossana to pick from.
Dash the Henge, The Bear, The Greyhound and The Old Dispensary. Sat Apr 18-Sun Apr 19. £16.95.
5. Record Store Day at Stranger Than Paradise
This plant-filled, oh-so-stylish Hackney haven for musos is throwing an all-day bash this Record Store Day. It’ll open at 8am, with shoppers able to queue up early to get their hands on special releases. Stick around and you’ll find a stellar DJ line-up including BBC6 fave Gilles Peterson (11am) and BobaFatt (6.30pm). Records are first come, first served, and entry might be limited when this small space gets busy.
Stranger Than Paradise, 117 Mare Street. Sat April 18. Free.
6. Record Store Day at Old Street Records
In the mood for dancing, not queuing? Wend your way to live music bar Old Street Records for two floors of all-vinyl boogieing with a retro flavour. This free party kicks off at 3pm with disco from DJ Carly Foxx, followed by DJ Matman with funk, hip hop and RnB, dance floor classics from DJ Dan Grey, ’90s and ’00s sounds from DJ P, and late night sounds from Kengo San and DJ Limao. The fun’ll continue til 2am, with sourdough pizzas and cocktails on hand to fuel your night.
Old Street Records, 356 Old Street. Sat April 18. Free.
7. Record Store Day at Next Door Records 2
You’ll find spellbinding sounds from two female singer-songwriters in the basement of Stoke Newington’s Next Door Records 2. First, Yaz will draw on her French and Palestinian heritage with songs that mix Arabic tradition with the storytelling power of the classic chanson (2pm). Then, Dublin-born Lucy McWilliams will deliver a genre-spanning set exploring all the pains and joys of love (3pm). Upstairs on the shopfloor, there'll be DJ sets from Haseeb Iqbal, Dirt Bike Dub and Marie Guyot, ready to entertain browsers as they pick out their record store day buys.
Next Door Records 2, 182 Stoke Newington Road. Sat April 18. Free.
8. Phonica, Waterworks & Jubel presents Record Store Day 2026
Lovers of dance and electronic music will be beating a trail to Soho’s legendary Phonica this Record Store Day, enticed by a secret special guest line-up in its upstairs shop floor and cavernous basement. They specialist dance music store will be teaming up with Waterworks Festival to secure talents from the weirder and wilder ends of the new electronic music spectrum, while beer brand Jubel will supply the crowd with free fruity brews. Previous years have seen the likes of Daniel Avery, Special Request, Skream, I.Jordan and Sherelle jump on the decks, so if you’re a fan of high tempos, this one is definitely for you.
Phonica, 51 Poland Street. Sat April 18. Free.
9. Kingly Court Presents: Soho Sounds with Soho Radio
Soho Radio has made a name for itself over the past decade by ditching playlists and letting its DJs handpick the song selections on the airwaves. The uncensored station is taking over Carnaby Street’s huge food court, Kingly Court, for a selection of live music residencies as the summer sets in. On RSD Saturday, there’ll be gigs from alt-jazz songstress Gigi Wilde (1pm to 3pm) and a hip-hop-heavy DJ set from All Caps Radio (3pm to 5pm). Listen with a drink in hand and a plate full of barbecued treats from Goldies.
Kingly Court. Sat Apr 18. Free.
10. Vinyl, Vintage & Film at Casbah Records
Naturally, Greenwich’s retro music den Casbah Records will be selling this year’s coveted RSD releases. But they’ve decided to take things a step further by curating a special selection of vintage vinyl, available for the first time that day, for anyone looking to take home some new old records. There’ll also be giveaways and freebies for the first 50 customers of the day, so arrive early before its 9am opening to be in with a shot. Or pop in to nearby Greenwich Picturehouse for the record shop’s special screening of classic, massively quotable 1970s rock movie Almost Famous (Saturday, 7.30pm) with music-themed prizes to be won on the night.
Casbah Records and Greenwich Picturehouse. Sat April 18. Free-£9.35 film ticket.
Find more spots to hunt down vinyl with our roundup of London’s best record shops.
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