The annual celebration of independent record stores invites artists and labels to submit expressions of interest for exclusive releases across vinyl, CD, cassette, and new hybrid format KiTbetter.
Mark your calendars: Record Store Day Australia is returning on Saturday, 18 April 2026, celebrating the vital role independently owned record stores play in Australian communities.
Since 2008, Record Store Day has grown into a global celebration of independent music retail, supporting local stores, artists, labels, and the communities that keep physical music alive. There’s no better time to get down to your local record store and grow your collection.
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Artists and labels are now invited to submit expressions of interest to release music as part of Record Store Day Australia 2026. Releases can be presented via traditional formats, vinyl, CD, and cassette, or through KiTbetter, a new hybrid physical and digital music format designed to blend the collectible appeal of physical products like albums, photo cards, booklets, and merchandise with a connected digital experience. Record Store Day Australia is keeping things flexible, giving artists multiple ways to celebrate physical and collectable formats.
Previous years have seen releases from a diverse range of Australian artists, including Ninajirachi, Ruel, 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 and Darren Hayes collaboration, The Wiggles, Bluey, and more.
The continued resurgence of physical music formats has people coming together in record stores to discover music, connect with their communities, and celebrate the culture that exists beyond streaming platforms. Record Store Day Australia recognises record stores as more than retail spaces, but community hubs where shared musical passion forges connections that algorithm-driven platforms can’t hold a torch to.
Record stores facilitate intergenerational connections, from first-time vinyl buyers to seasoned collectors who share their knowledge and help ensure culture remains accessible. The continued existence of the physical music and the vinyl ecosystem is a conscious choice, and Record Store Day highlights the unique benefits of physical music retail over digital alternatives: discovery, intentional listening experiences, and direct support for independent artists and labels.
Artists and labels can submit expressions of interest at Record Store Day Australia. Submissions close 5pm, Friday January 30.
