Record Store Day 2026: 14 Must-Have Releases

April has arrived, bringing with it a tapestry of seasonal milestones—from Easter and Passover to Earth Day and the unofficial 4/20 festivities. Yet, for the vinyl faithful, one date stands above the rest: Record Store Day. Now in its 18th year, the celebration returns on Saturday, April 18, to honor the independent shops that keep the culture of physical media alive.

This year’s event arrives on the heels of a massive industry milestone, with vinyl revenues exceeding $1 billion in 2025 according to the RIAA. It is a stunning turnaround for a format once written off as an artifact of the past. This resurgence serves as a pointed response to the hyper-digital nature of the modern music landscape, proving that fans still crave the tactile experience of a record in their hands.

Pop powerhouse Bruno Mars has been tapped as this year’s RSD ambassador. To mark the occasion, he is releasing Collaborations, a curated collection featuring his most iconic duets, including “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson, “Die With a Smile” with Lady Gaga, “APT.” with ROSÉ, and the “Finesse” remix with Cardi B.

“You get to truly immerse yourself in the music,” Mars remarked on the record store experience. “I love being physically surrounded by it. There is something special about moving beyond phone screens and digital downloads to appreciate the tangible art around you—it’s an endless source of inspiration.”

We’ve sifted through the massive catalog of nearly 360 exclusive titles to highlight the 14 records we are most anticipating. Here is our curated list:

• Jeff Buckley, ‘Live at L’Olympia’

  2x LP, 15,400 copies; CD, 3,250 copies (Legacy Recordings)

  First unveiled in 2001, this essential concert document captures Buckley at his peak during a 1995 Paris residency. Featuring haunting renditions of “Hallelujah,” “Dream Brother,” and a daring riff on Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” this set remains a testament to one of the most transcendent voices in rock history.

• Charli xcx, ‘Party 4 U’

  7″ vinyl, 8,000 copies

  After finding a second life via a viral TikTok dance challenge, this 2020 fan-favorite finally hits shelves as a 7-inch single. Pressed on crystal-clear acetate with a bespoke etching on the flip side, it’s a must-have for the hyperpop generation.

• doPE, ‘No Country for Old Men’

  LP, 2,000 copies (Org Music)

  An unexpected but inspired collision of worlds: Public Enemy’s Chuck D and The Doors’ John Densmore join forces for this project. The album masterfully bridges the gap between rhythmic revolution and classic rock, offering an intergenerational dialogue on wax.

• The Cure, ‘Acoustic Hits’

  2x LP, 7,200 copies (Rhino)

  Initially released as a bonus disc to their 2001 Greatest Hits, this collection finds Robert Smith stripping back 18 of the band’s most beloved tracks. Making its RSD debut on silver bio-vinyl, it offers an intimate, unplugged look at their gothic-pop catalog.

• Flying Lotus, ‘1983’

  LP, 2,000 copies (Brainfeeder)

  Before he redefined instrumental hip-hop, Steven Ellison released this debut under his own birth year. This reissue offers a nostalgic look at the origins of his experimental sound, polished and pressed by his own Brainfeeder imprint.

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