Record Store Day 2026 announces Olivia Dean as Official UK Ambassador

The recently crowned Best New Artist at the Grammy’s follows up from previous RSD ambassadors including Sam Fender, Noel Gallagher, and Elton John.

Date published: 26th Feb 2026

Record Store Day has announced Olivia Dean as their Official UK Ambassador. The recently crowned Best New Artist at the Grammy’s has been awarded the role as a champion of independent record stores and the role they play within communities, and joins the ranks of previous ambassadors including Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher, and Elton John.

RSD also announced a limited edition black 7’’ vinyl, Live at the BBC, from the Grammy winner featuring live renditions of tracks by Carole King, boygenius, and more. Dean’s most recent release, her sophomore LP The Art of Loving, sold 45,000 copies on vinyl following its September release. Tonight additionally sees the London star performing at the Albert Hall in Manchester as part of BRITs Week for War Child. 

“It’s such an honour to be the Record Store Day Ambassador for 2026,” Dean said of her new ambassador role, “Independent record stores are such special spaces to discover and share music - to actually touch it and feel it. I want to thank the record stores around the world for all the support you’ve given me over the years. It’s so important we continue to support them and keep them alive!” Jane Unwin of Banquet Records called the choice of ambassador, “a quality endorsement of RSD and of record shops themselves.”

An annual celebration of independent record shops and vinyl culture, this year’s Record Store Day takes place on Saturday 18th April. The 19th instalment of RSD sees over 280 UK record shops and thousands of retailers taking part. 

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