Record Store Day 2026: "Biggest event of the year" for independent record shops draws near - what is it and what shops are taking part near Portsmouth?
Independent shops look ahead to Record Store Day
The “biggest event of the year” for independent record shops is just around the corner as over 500 titles are released in one day.
Record Store Day 2026 (RSD) takes place on Saturday, April 18 but preparations are well underway as shops in the Portsmouth area look forward to welcoming customers from far and wide, some of whom will be camping out the day before.
What is Record Store Day?
Having originated in America, Record Store Day started in 2007 when record shop owners gathered together to celebrate each other and spread the word of their unique culture. The first official event took place the following year and it has grown exponentially since with over 300 independent record stores across the UK and Ireland now celebrating it.
Each year a number of special limited edition records are released on the day which can only be purchased in store, with excess stock later being sold online. To keep the exclusivity it is kept at one title per person when buying in person. While it takes place on one day, the aim is to showcase the independent record stores and encourage people to visit all year round.
What shops are taking part in the Portsmouth area?
Not every independent record shop takes part in RSD with it only available to stores that stock brand new releases. As such, second hand record shops do not take part and even stores that do sell new releases have to apply to be apart of it. This year there are three stores in the local area which are involved:
Pie & Vinyl, Castle Road, Southsea
Steve Courtnell’s popular record shop is a veteran of Record Store Day with 2026 being its 14th year involved in the celebration. In previous years they have held street parties with live bands performing. People are known to camp out at least 24 hours in advance of the shop opening and Low Tide Coffee will be in attendance to keep the queue caffeinated on the day.
Pie & Vinyl are helping to celebrate a heritage turntable providers 80th anniversary. Six golden tickets are being hidden around the store with each one giving the recipient a prize including turntables or a turntable maintenance kit. Portsmouth based charity, Tonic Music for Mental Health will be in attendance promoting its services while Pie & Vinyl have a number of goodies to hand out.
Steve said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to make a lot of people happy and we are looking forward it. It’s always so good seeing many of our customers, and hopefully some new ones as that is the key to it all. It is a great day where the spotlight is on you and you have to make the most of it.”
A Slice of Vinyl, Stoke Road, Gosport
Record Store Day is always an event that Emma Howes of A Slice of Vinyl looks forward to describing it as the most “fun” day of the year as well as the “biggest event of the year” for them. This year it is a double celebration as it falls on her birthday so there will be party atmosphere with a vinyl DJ belting out some tunes in the afternoon.
As with the other stores in the area, some customers start showing up around midday the day before. A Slice of Vinyl hand out dinner to the dedicated music lovers in the evening before returning with pastries in the morning ahead of opening at around 8am.
Emma said: “We have a lot of people come from far and wide and people will often see each other for the first time that year and re-meet each other on Record Store Day. It is really lovely, the vibes are always good.
“It is such an important part of the year both musically, culturally and just for us as an independent shop to have a good footing. It really highlights the love for vinyl and music on a physical format. There is something really special about being able to get together with so many people who love the same thing as you on one special day.”
Heathen Chemistry Records, West Street, Fareham
Steve Rossi of Heathen Chemistry Records goes above and beyond for customers on Record Store Day, choosing to camp out with them and provide food and drink. It is one of the highlights of the year for Steve as he meets music lovers from across the region.
He said: “We love Record Store Day here, I stay overnight with the customers and turn it into a community event buying them pizzas and drinks and turn it into a fun event. I lose count of how many people queue up, it goes round the corner.”
While the shop is not officially open overnight he stays out letting customer use the toilet, charge phones and lays out a spread of food for them.
What records are being released?
With over 500 titles released on the day there are too many to list here. However the headline release is from global superstar Taylor Swift with Elizabeth Taylor coming out on 7”. There is an eclectic range of titles coming out on the day for music lovers of all tastes.
Steve from Pie & Vinyl highlighted a number releases he is looking forward to with releases from 13th Floor Elevators, The Fall, Flying Lotus, Jeff Buckley, Joe Henderson, Pavement and John Lennon his stand outs.
The big release for Emma at A Slice of Vinyl is Self Esteem’s album Cuddles Please which is being released on vinyl for the first time. She is also “super excited” for Paramore’s All We know is Falling which is a very limited release so she doubts she will get her hands on it. She added: “I am a big Wicked fan so the Wicked One Wonderful Night live album is one I can’t wait for as well.”
Heathen Chemistry Records’ Steve has worked personally on two of the releases this year, Status Quo and T-Rex, so they are are understandably two of his picks. Owner of the store, Simon Dampier’s highlights are releases from Ian Brown, The Misunderstood and Rupert’s People.
The full list of releases can be found at https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list.