There’s a certain type of person who’ll set their alarm for the early hours of a Saturday morning, not for work or travel, but for a record.

Record Store Day returns this weekend, for another event that fosters a community, supports local independent businesses and provides exclusive, limited edition media that cannot be replicated by streaming.

Each year the event injects a huge financial boost into local record stores, which act as a vital hub for music communities and discovery. It also supports charities like War Child.

This year’s edition comes as we reach the high point in UK vinyl sales, peaking at an 18-year high. Record stores have become a hub for human algorithms. Streaming leans into AI driven recommendations, whereas visiting a record store allows for human interaction. It also gives you the opportunity to browse the shelves and bins, discuss favourites and recommendations with counter staff or the people you rub shoulders with, and support a local ecosystem.

With over 540 exclusives to sift through, some of the big picks come in the form of the official ambassadors for Record Store Day. Olivia Dean is the UK representative and she’s releasing ‘Live At The BBC’ 7-inch on a crystal clear vinyl.

Bruno Mars, the global ambassador, releases ‘Bruno Mars & Friends’, a compilation album that features some of his greatest collaborations to date. Elsewhere, Taylor Swift releases the 7-inch ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo team up again for live ‘Wicked’ soundtrack. Also keep an eye out for releases from Blur, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Paramore.

Record Store Day also forges community spirit through performances, signing sessions and food/drink offerings. My local, Vinilo Record Store, swings their doors open to the smell of freshly roasting coffee beans at 8am. Down the road in Southsea, Pie and Vinyl welcomes their guests with a fresh slice, and Rough Trade East has their own operational bar.

Independent stores up and down the country will play host to an array of secret performers and all-day DJ sets. The full day isn’t just about the wax, it’s made in the atmosphere.

My RSD 2026 will be similar to the previous iterations. Wake up in the early hours to join the queue outside Vinilo Record Store, Southampton. After queueing for hours I’ll try my best to secure everything on my list, and my mother’s……..

Upon returning home, I’ll tidy myself up and pick my mum up to take her out to the New Forest to visit Black Star Records in Lyndhurst. This way she can sift through the items I couldn’t get in the morning, and enjoy the live performances and a local cafe visit.

My list this year includes The K’s, The Vaccines, The Lathums and The Snuts. I’ll keep the others under wraps to improve my chances!

Set your alarms for 8am (Or maybe 5am if you have your eyes on that Pink Floyd boxset), grab a coffee or pastry at your local independent store and embrace the hunt. This day celebrates the community that keeps the needles moving all year round. See you at the crates.

Words by Brad Halcrow for The Songbird HQ