Robert Plant, the former Led Zeppelin frontman, has been named this year’s Record Store Legend ahead of Record Store Day 2026 on April 18. Organisers praised his lasting impact on music and commitment to independent record shops. Plant spoke about the importance of physical records during a visit to Cardiff’s Spillers Records.
Record Store Day 2026, now in its 19th year, will celebrate independent record shops and vinyl culture across more than 300 UK stores. Exclusive physical releases will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from artists including Charli XCX, Muse, Suede, David Bowie, The Cure, Paramore and others. Plant follows previous Record Store Legends Elton John and Johnny Marr in receiving the honour from organisers, who highlighted his global influence and support for new artists and shops. Plant’s own EP, ‘Saving Grace: All That Glitters’, will be released for the occasion, joining a full slate that features CMAT, HAIM, RAYE, Sleep Token, Wolf Alice and more. Additional one-off records benefit RSD’s charity partner War Child, with contributions from acts like The Cure, Fleetwood Mac and Primal Scream. Speaking at Spillers Records in Cardiff, Plant reflected: “Record stores have always been a part of my life. For me, once you get to the physical record it’s because you really want to know and be a part of what the artist was considering. And I know, as a guy who’s been making records since 1966, people want to take home something very special, to enjoy all the elements of what an artist has put together. We want a connection between the music and the art of the whole thing.” The event comes as vinyl sales hit a 20-year high, with the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association reporting an 18.6% growth to over 7.5 million discs sold last year, generating £238 million.