Record Store Day 2026: Springsteen, Neil Young Lead Releases
Record Store Day 2026 unveiled its complete lineup of exclusive releases on February 4, featuring over 350 titles from classic rock legends and contemporary artists.
Bruce Springsteen leads with a massive five-LP live set from his historic 2024 Asbury Park performance.
You’re about to discover every essential release, from Neil Young’s clear vinyl to Joni Mitchell’s controversial original album artwork.
The annual celebration of independent record stores takes place April 18, 2026, at participating shops worldwide.
This year’s lineup represents the most significant collection of classic rock vinyl in Record Store Day history.
Record Store Day 2026 brings unprecedented access to legendary performances and rare recordings from the artists who defined rock music.
Image Credit: Legacy Recordings
🎸 Record Store Day 2026 Quick Facts
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Total Releases: 350+ exclusive titles
- Classic Rock Highlights: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Def Leppard, Tom Petty, The Who, Robert Plant
- Ambassador: Bruno Mars
- Participating Stores: 1,400+ independent record shops in the US, thousands worldwide
- Format: Mostly vinyl LPs with colored and stylized variants
- Availability: First-come, first-served at brick-and-mortar stores only on April 18
🎸 Prepare for Record Store Day with Essential Albums
Get ready for April 18 by revisiting the classics from these legendary artists.
Own the essential albums before hunting for those limited pressings.
Shop Essential Albums →📚 Table of Contents
🎥 Watch: Bruce Springsteen Returns to Asbury Park
Record Store Day 2026: The Full Story
Record Store Day announced its 2026 lineup on February 4, revealing over 350 exclusive releases for independent record stores.
The 19th annual celebration takes place Saturday, April 18, 2026, at participating shops worldwide.
Bruno Mars serves as the 2026 Record Store Day Ambassador, following in the footsteps of Taylor Swift, Jack White, and Grateful Dead‘s Mickey Hart.
Classic rock dominates this year’s releases with unprecedented offerings from legendary artists spanning five decades.
Most releases feature limited pressings on colored vinyl with special packaging unavailable anywhere else.
💡 Did You Know?
Vinyl sales reached their highest level in 20 years in 2025, with Record Store Day driving significant growth in independent shop sales. The 2025 event generated over $100 million in revenue for independent record stores across North America.
What Is Record Store Day and Why It Matters
Record Store Day began in 2007 as a celebration of independent record store culture and the enduring art of vinyl.
The first Record Store Day took place April 19, 2008, at nearly 1,400 independently owned record stores in the United States.
Artists, labels, and record stores collaborate to create exclusive physical releases available only on Record Store Day.
The event supports independent shops that serve as cultural hubs in their communities, offering more than just music sales.
Classic rock news enthusiasts recognize Record Store Day as the premier annual event for physical music releases and classic rock artists continue supporting the tradition.
🎵 Build Your Collection Before April 18
Discover the classic albums that inspired these exclusive releases.
Own the complete discographies from your favorite artists.
Browse Albums Now →Bruce Springsteen’s Live From Asbury Park 2024
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s triumphant 2024 return to Asbury Park headlines the Record Store Day 2026 releases.
The five-LP or three-CD set captures more than three hours of music from the September 15, 2024 Sea.Hear.Now Festival performance.
Springsteen performed 30 songs before 35,000 fans on the beach in his spiritual hometown.
The setlist includes classics like “Thunder Road” and “Dancing in the Dark” alongside deep cuts “Blinded By the Light” and “Growin’ Up.”
Tour premieres included “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” “Thundercrack,” and “Meeting Across the River.”
💡 Did You Know?
Bruce Springsteen’s Sea.Hear.Now performance marked the first time he played “Blinded By the Light” live since 2017. The song, which launched his career when covered by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in 1976, became a worldwide hit reaching number one in multiple countries.
Classic Rock Releases You Can’t Miss
Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts contribute The Live Album, a double album on clear vinyl with a lyric poster.
The recordings come from the band’s 2025 “Love Earth” tour, initially exclusive for Record Store Day before wider release May 1.
Joni Mitchell‘s 1972 album For The Roses receives special treatment with the original artwork she submitted.
Music executive David Geffen vetoed Mitchell’s cover featuring roses placed next to a horse’s behind over 50 years ago.
Def Leppard‘s sixth studio album, 1996’s Slang, arrives on two-LP pink vinyl featuring B-sides and rarities personally curated by frontman Joe Elliott.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers receive recognition with special compilation releases celebrating their enduring catalog.
The Who‘s A Quick One gets the Record Store Day treatment alongside releases from Robert Plant.
Plant returned to the studio for Saving Grace: All That Glitters with Suzi Dian, a four-song EP created exclusively for Record Store Day.
How to Get Record Store Day 2026 Releases
Record Store Day releases are available exclusively at participating independent record stores on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
All items are first-come, first-served with most stores opening early for dedicated collectors.
Find participating stores at RecordStoreDay.com, where fans can search by location and see which stores carry specific releases.
Each participating shop orders releases through their usual distributors, meaning inventory varies by location.
Stores may sell remaining stock online starting Sunday, April 19, though quantities are limited for most releases.
💡 Did You Know?
Record Store Day titles fall into three categories: Exclusives (only at indie stores), RSD First (available first at indie stores with wider release later), and Small Run/Regional Titles (limited pressings under 1,000 copies). Understanding these categories helps collectors prioritize their must-have releases.
💿 Experience the Albums That Started It All
These classic albums influenced generations of musicians and fans.
Add them to your collection before Record Store Day arrives.
View Essential Albums →🎸 Essential Classic Rock Albums 🎵
Build your vinyl collection with these must-have records before Record Store Day
🎤 Bruce Springsteen Collection
Multiple Albums – Columbia Records
This comprehensive collection includes Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and The River.
Experience the albums that defined The Boss’s legendary career and influenced generations.
Perfect preparation for the Live From Asbury Park 2024 Record Store Day release.
🎤 Neil Young Collection
Multiple Albums – Reprise Records
Essential Neil Young including Harvest, After the Gold Rush, and Rust Never Sleeps.
Features the raw acoustic power and electric intensity that made Young a rock icon.
Get ready for The Live Album arriving on clear vinyl for Record Store Day 2026.
🎤 Joni Mitchell – For The Roses
1972 – Asylum Records
Mitchell’s fifth studio album showcases her evolution as a songwriter and pianist.
Features “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” and deeply personal acoustic compositions.
Own the original before the controversial cover artwork returns for Record Store Day.
🎤 Def Leppard – Slang
1996 – Mercury Records
Def Leppard’s grittier, guitar-driven sixth album marked a creative departure.
Features “All I Want Is Everything” and showcases the band’s musical evolution.
Prepare for Joe Elliott’s curated B-sides and rarities on pink vinyl April 18.
🎤 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Collection
Multiple Albums – MCA Records
Essential Petty including Damn the Torpedoes, Full Moon Fever, and Wildflowers.
Experience the timeless songwriting that made Petty an American rock icon.
Perfect companion to the exclusive Record Store Day releases celebrating his legacy.
🎤 The Who – A Quick One
1966 – Decca Records
The Who’s groundbreaking second album featuring the nine-minute mini-opera title track.
Includes “Boris the Spider” and showcases the band’s pioneering rock opera ambitions.
Essential listening before hunting for the exclusive Record Store Day edition.
🎤 Robert Plant Collection
Multiple Albums – Various Labels
Robert Plant’s solo work including Pictures at Eleven, The Principle of Moments, and Raising Sand.
Experience Plant’s journey beyond Led Zeppelin into world music and Americana.
Get ready for Saving Grace: All That Glitters with Suzi Dian on Record Store Day.
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Complete Classic Rock Release List for Record Store Day 2026
Record Store Day 2026 features releases from dozens of classic rock legends spanning multiple decades of music history.
David Bowie‘s 1.Outside era receives attention with a neon pink 12-inch EP collecting six “Hallo Spaceboy” remixes.
The Cars, Grateful Dead, and Bryan Adams contribute exclusive releases celebrating their enduring catalogs.
Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Rolling Stones offer rarities and live recordings for dedicated collectors.
The Doors‘ John Densmore joins Public Enemy’s Chuck D for doPE’s debut album No Country for Old Men.
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Elton John, and Pink Floyd headline additional releases.
Brian Wilson, Stewart Copeland, and Foreigner provide previously unreleased material and special editions.
Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, John Lennon, and George Harrison round out the legendary lineup.
Steely Dan provides audiophile-quality releases for discerning collectors seeking sonic perfection.
Visit RecordStoreDay.com for the complete list of releases and participating stores near you.
Record Store Day History and Legacy
Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees.
The first celebration took place April 19, 2008, at nearly 1,400 independent stores across the United States.
Today Record Store Day participating stores exist on every continent except Antarctica, celebrating vinyl culture globally.
Past ambassadors include Metallica, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Iggy Pop, and St. Vincent.
Learn more about classic rock artists and their continued support of independent music retailers.
Your Questions About Record Store Day 2026 Answered
Most stores open early for the event, with many starting sales at 8:00 or 9:00 AM.
Check with your local participating store for their specific hours and release availability.
The recordings capture over three hours of music from his September 15, 2024 Sea.Hear.Now Festival performance.
The set includes 30 songs featuring classics and rare deep cuts performed before 35,000 fans.
Classic rock accounts for a significant portion with releases from Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and dozens more.
The complete list is available at RecordStoreDay.com with full details on each release.
Participating stores may sell remaining stock online starting Sunday, April 19, though quantities are very limited.
The event specifically supports in-person shopping at independent record shops.
Music executive David Geffen rejected Mitchell’s cover featuring roses next to a horse’s behind over 50 years ago.
This marks the first time Mitchell’s original artistic vision reaches record store shelves.
Mars will release The Collaborations, a compilation of his biggest team-ups including “Uptown Funk” and “APT.”
The ambassador role celebrates artists who support independent record shops throughout the year.
The website lists over 1,400 participating stores in the United States and thousands more internationally.
Check with individual stores about their specific inventory and event schedule for April 18.
Why Record Store Day 2026 Is Essential
Record Store Day 2026 represents the most significant collection of classic rock vinyl releases in the event’s 19-year history.
Bruce Springsteen’s triumphant Asbury Park performance, Neil Young’s clear vinyl live album, and Joni Mitchell’s controversial artwork restoration make April 18 unmissable.
Support your local independent record store and experience the community celebration that makes Record Store Day special.
Explore more classic rock news and tour announcements on ClassicRockArtists.com.
Record Store Day 2026 celebrates vinyl culture, independent retailers, and the legendary artists who continue inspiring new generations of classic rock fans.
🎸 Prepare for Record Store Day
Browse the essential albums or explore our complete classic rock coverage!