Record Store Day UK has unveiled Olivia Dean as the official UK ambassador for 2026.
Olivia joins the ranks of iconic past ambassadors including Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Taylor Swift, the 1975, Noel Gallagher and Elton John. She says she is ready to bring her love of vinyl and record shop culture to the 2026 event.
Speaking of her ambassador role, Olivia said: “It’s such an honour to be the Record Store Day Ambassador for 2026. Independent record stores are such special spaces to discover and share music – to actually touch it and feel it. I’ve found so much inspiration in the records I’ve collected over the years and am so grateful for all the hidden gems I’ve found.
As part of the RSD celebrations, the Grammy Award-winning superstar will release ‘Live at the BBC’, featuring live renditions of tracks by Carole King and boygenius. Recorded for the BBC, the release will be available as a limited edition black 7’’ vinyl, exclusively from participating independent record stores on Saturday, April 18.
Here’s a list of the record stores in the East Midlands taking part
According to Official Charts data, Olivia was the sixth biggest vinyl album artist of 2025, with The Art of Loving selling 45,000 copies on the format.
In 2026, the album has gone even further: The Art of Loving is currently the UK’s biggest-selling vinyl album of the year, with over 11,000 copies sold since January 1.
Around 300 UK independent record shops are set to take part in this year’s Record Store Day – the highest number in the event’s 19-year history.
Jane Unwin from Banquet Records said: “Olivia Dean being this year’s ambassador is a quality endorsement of RSD and of record shops themselves. Supportive of indie shops for years, Olivia’s a legit modern pop star – not only a massive live draw, but consistently selling loads of physical music week in, week out.
“There’s a very clear understanding of what makes physical music special, whether it’s The Art of Loving on coloured vinyl, the RSD Black Friday split with Sam Fender, or this year’s RSD 7” cover versions.”
