MUSIC NEWS: Record Store Day Instores + Countdown

A tidal wave of national live instores revealed for Record Store Day 2026, featuring Hermitude, Egoism, Public Figures and many more

Record Store Day 2026 is just around the corner, prepping to take over indie record stores on Saturday 18 April 2026, and today RSD are thrilled to offer a slice of the activity set to take over record stores nationwide. As per, the Record Store Day 2026 calendar is packed with a veritable feast of live instores, artist appearances and special events spanning both city and regional communities nationwide. 

In NSW, Hermitude will undertake a monster mission of visiting eight record stores in 24 hours in celebration of their new LP EIGHT, journeying from the top of the Blue Mountains to Bondi on Sydney's coast. Some stores will have them performing live, while others will be unveiling limited edition lathe cut vinyl raffles. Joining Hermitude at Bondi Records is Egoism in support of their RSD release,Trust Me, who are also popping into TITLE store for a set, while egg-punks Media Puzzle will take over Badlands Vinyl off the back of their RSD release New Racehorse. 

The free and all ages shows are aplenty in Victoria, with country diva Queenie performing at Desert Highways and Rocksteady Records sharing sounds from Nat Pavlovic, Merpire and more. Soundmerch continues their trend of day-long live music with sets from Public Figures, Owelu Dreamhouse, The Antics, The Gnomes and more, while Sensible J and Immy Owusu will perform live at Bar Open from 3pm. Northside Records hits heavy again, with live performances from Kee’ahn, Mokomokai (NZ) and Steppers, plus an exclusive signing from the one and only Baker Boy. Over in Geelong, Popcultcha Records will feature live sets from The Vasco Era, Saint Ergo and Winksy. 

Elsewhere, Tasmania’s Suffragette Records will host an intimate performance from Naomi Keyte, who will play songs from her album Milk, Paper, Gold, Adelaide’s My Dead Grandpa will have live DJs spinning tunes all day, and Echo and Bounce in Queensland will host Das Druid and Bradley Zero. 

These events are a teensy snapshot of the full program of in-store activity happening on RSD across Australia. Visit the Record Store Day Australia’s website for a full list of events. According to a recent report from ARIA, Australia’s recorded music market continued its steady climb in 2025, with physical formats up 11% thanks to a near 30% increase in CD sales and the continued uptake of vinyl.

In a market long dominated by digital consumption, these reports show that listeners are increasingly returning to formats they can hold, collect and connect with. To Record Store Day Australia’s Director, Sarah Guppy, who has been spearheading the global Record Store Day celebration since 2024, Record Store Day is more than a shopping spree for music lovers. It’s about championing our local music ecosystem and creating space for the music community to unite and reconnect with physical music retail over digital alternatives. 

“At its heart, Record Store Day Australia is about championing our local music ecosystem, supporting independent stores, labels, and artists, while helping them reach new audiences,” Sarah says. 

Taking on the role of Director for Record Store Day Australia has been incredibly meaningful. Having worked in the music industry my entire career, my main goal has been to reconnect the event as a celebration of the people who make independent record stores so special. It’s about creating a space where artists, customers, and communities come together to honour the culture, creativity, and connection that only these stores offer.

“We want to see the event continue to grow each year, and strengthen the role these stores play in their communities, ensuring they remain vital cultural spaces for years to come.”

 It's now almost 20 years into Record Store Day, and since its inception in 2008, it has grown into a global centrepiece of the independent music community. 

The day continues to support music communities, labels, and emerging and established artists, while highlighting our local indie record stores' unique role as cultural hubs and community spaces. Now, that commitment has expanded to include music from the APAC region, signalling yet another example of how music communities can cross borders and continents and continue building a thriving, interconnected musical ecosystem. 

 “I’m especially thrilled to be expanding Record Store Day across the APAC region, building meaningful connections between countries like Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, and laying the groundwork for continued growth across the region,” Sarah continues. “There’s such a rich and diverse music culture throughout APAC, and bringing these communities together under one banner is a really exciting step forward."

This year’s Record Store Day releases, which feature the likes of Empire of the Sun, Holy Holy, Bluey, Egoism, Kee’ahn, Spacey Jane, Saint Ergo, Ruel and more, builds upon the scaffolding of previous years, with artists like Ninajirachi, You Am I, Pond, The Grogans, Olana Janfa, Beth and Blue, Heavy Moss, Ella Thompson, Ocean Alley, Underground Lovers, Montaigne, Tasman Keith, Confidence Man, Peking Duk x Darren Hayes and The Wiggles all taking part.

This year, join the Record Store Day celebrations on Saturday 18 April 2026 and play your part in supporting local indie retailers while keeping physical music formats alive and thriving.