Sheffield’s independent record shops were buzzing on Saturday as Record Store Day 2026 dispersed music fans out across the city, with the annual event seeing more than 300 independent shops take part nationwide.
Record Store Day reported their largest ever event with sales up 25% from the prior year and record-breaking footfall for independent retailers.
Spinning Discs in Meersbrook participated in the annual event with employee Fiona Jervice, saying: “People get really excited about it and before having ringing up constantly, so there’s just a real buzz and it’s just, it’s like a shot in the arm really for independent businesses”
The shop welcomed local band Pale Blue Eyes for a live set, alongside DJ sets from customers eager to try out their newly purchased records.
Also reporting 233 sales on the day, with over 400 records finding new homes.
Down in Lowfield, Grub records celebrated the day for a second year with pop ups from various sellers of books, clothes and more vinyl down at Hagglers Corner.
Gabe Presland co-owner of Grub Records said: “From a business perspective it is easily our busiest trading day of the year, Record Store Day is a wicked initiative from the perspective of record shops.”
He also said: “It gets everyone out shopping, buying records that they wouldn’t necessarily get to buy the rest of the year round.
“It’s just a huge, huge boost for record stores in their survivability.”
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Vinyl in the last 20 years has had a major revival in the UK, with 2025 revenue reaching £174.7 million.
New independent store Wax Head Records had queues out the door, with people travelling all the way from Nottinghamshire, after only opening in October of last year.
Wax Head Records assistant Jack Noriie said: “It’s nice to have a day, which is focussed all about independent stores, to get the local community to support your local independent record retailers.”
Record Store Day began in 2007 in Maryland, Baltimore during a meeting of independent record store owners with the first official event held on April 19, 2008.