National Album Day returns on Saturday, October 17, 2026 with this year’s theme celebrating music icons – covering legendary, cultural and contemporary artists and recordings.
Last year’s National Album Day focused on rock, while previous editions have covered the ’90s, women in music, debut albums and great British groups.
In the announcement, music icons identified as examples included The Beatles, David Bowie, Oasis, Spice Girls, Jazzie B, Little Simz, Lola Young and Raye.
National Album Day celebrates the art of the album. The day – supported by artist album champions and promoted with exclusive releases – encourages album discovery and listening, especially among a younger audience.
The first two artist icons of this year’s 2026 campaign are BRIT winner and Grammy nominee PinkPantheress, and Oscar-nominated composer Max Richter CBE.
PinkPantheress said: “Music is experienced in ways that are unique to every listener. I love revisiting albums that I discovered at different times in my life, while always keeping an ear out for new sounds. This year, I encourage everyone to do the same for National Album Day.”
Max Richter CBE said: “Albums allow ideas the time and space to unfold. They invite a different kind of listening, one that allows for a deeper connection between artist and listener. That relationship is something I’ve always valued and why I’m glad to support National Album Day as an album champion.”
This year’s National Album Day, the ninth edition since the event launched in 2018, is again presented in association with BBC Radio 2. The event is supported across the station and BBC Sounds.
Many music fans are discovering, or rediscovering, the joy of exploring the album as a creative body of work in which artists have put in so much inspiration, imagination and often genius
Iain McNay
National Album Day is organised jointly by the BPI and ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association behind Record Store Day.
National Album Day has hosted a variety of activities such as listening events with album platforms including Classic Album Sundays, Pitchblack Playback, The Record Club, Tape Notes and Tim’s Listening Parties, as well as live performances (including with charity partner War Child), in-store artist appearances, record store promotions, album sleeve artwork exhibitions and street art murals.
National Album Day also welcomed the backing of official supporters: Cherry Red Records, DP World, Official Charts, PPL, Proper and Trapeze.
In addition, UK labels back the initiative by releasing new or reissuing iconic albums exclusively in partnership with the music retail sector.
Iain McNay, founder, Cherry Red Records and ERA retail champion, said: “It’s nearly been a decade since NAD began, and it has grown year by year in awareness and importance. New figures published by the IFPI show global vinyl sales rising 13.7% and CD sales up by 3.7%, with overall physical format sales up by 8% in 2025. Many music fans are discovering, or rediscovering, the joy of exploring the album as a creative body of work in which artists have put in so much inspiration, imagination and often genius.”
He added: “The album is making a big comeback, and in supporting the retail community, NAD is increasingly encouraging people to discover this.”
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