Olivia Dean has been named as the ambassador for Record Store Day 2026, and has said that she wants to help “support” independent record shops and “keep them alive”.

• READ MORE: Record Store Day 2026: check out the full list of releases here
  

She was announced as the ambassador for this year’s edition of the series today (Thursday February 26), and joins an impressive list of previous artists who have taken on the role, including Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Taylor Swift, The 1975, Noel Gallagher and Elton John.

With the position, she helps champion the culture of independent record shops, and raise awareness for the vital role they play within their local communities.

This year marks the 19th instalment of RSD, and will return on Saturday April 18. More than 300 UK and Ireland record shops will be taking part, alongside thousands of indie retailers worldwide, as they sell an array of exclusive physical releases on a first-come-first-served basis and host some in-store events for one day only.

“It’s such an honour to be the Record Store Day Ambassador for 2026,” she said. “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.

“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!”

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