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OLIVIA DEAN ANNOUNCED AS AMBASSADOR OF RECORD STORE DAY UK
Record Store Day UK is proud to announce Olivia Dean as the Official UK Ambassador for 2026. Olivia has been awarded the role as a champion for the culture of independent record shops and the vital role they play within their local communities.
Joining the ranks of iconic past ambassadors including Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Taylor Swift, the 1975, Noel Gallagher and Elton John, Olivia 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. 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!”
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 18th April.
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. Widely credited as a key driver of the vinyl revival, Record Store Day has played a crucial role in the resurgence of independent record retail. Its continued success reflects the resilience, creativity and passion of record shop owners, who remain a vibrant and essential presence on UK high streets.
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.”
On Thursday 26 February, Olivia Dean will perform as part of BRITs Week for War Child at Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall, in support of Record Store Day’s official charity partner. Proceeds will go towards War Child's work supporting children affected by conflict, providing protection, specialist mental health support, education, and advocacy to some of the world's most vulnerable.
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