Rough Trade announces 50th anniversary plans for 2026, including Limited Edition vinyl releases, Rough Trade Club: Essential, a new year-long vinyl subscription and Exclusive live events.
We are excited to mark our 50th anniversary with a year-long programme of releases and events, reflecting both our history and our continued role in supporting artists and communities.
Below is our latest press release, issued today.
“I started working at Rough Trade at 202 Kensington Park Road in 1981 - for someone obsessed with music it was a dream job. Since then the world of music retail has changed so much - from vinyl to CDs to downloads to streaming and then back to vinyl! And from one shop in West London to ten, with branches in America and Berlin. One thing has stayed constant though - the constant discovery of amazing new bands (some old too) and artists and seeing them flourish alongside the growth of Rough Trade. And it still is my dream job."
Nigel House, Director, Rough Trade
Founded in West London in 1976, Rough Trade is a globally recognised independent music brand built on a DIY ethos. The original store was established not just as a place to buy records, but as a community space, driven by passion. Five decades on, Rough Trade remains dedicated to connecting artists and fans.
Central to the 50th Anniversary celebrations is a curated series of 50 essential albums spanning five decades, from 1976 to 2025, featuring era-defining albums by artists including Patti Smith, Aphex Twin, The xx, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Björk, Rina Sawayama, Pulp and many more. The albums will be released as Rough Trade Exclusive vinyl editions in five drops of ten titles, each representing a decade. The first drop arrives in February 2026, with subsequent releases every other month, concluding in October. Each title will be available to purchase individually, with an additional option to subscribe to Rough Trade Club: Essential, a new year-long vinyl subscription tied to the 50th anniversary celebrations.
The subscription comprises 12 exclusive vinyl releases selected from the anniversary curation, with members receiving one hand-picked album every month, pressed on Rough Trade Exclusive vinyl and featuring an exclusive insert including liner note contributions from the artists or key figures behind some of the most iconic albums of the last five decades.
While the 50th anniversary vinyl editions will also be available outside of the subscription, Rough Trade Club: Essential is limited to 500 subscribers. Membership also includes all existing Rough Trade Club benefits, such as free online shipping, in-store discounts and priority access to events, alongside exclusive anniversary merchandise not available elsewhere. The subscription is priced at (£395/€495/$595).
Alongside the vinyl releases, Rough Trade have partnered with concert promoters Bird On The Wire to host a number of special events in 2026.
The first events to be announced include a very rare live appearance from Jim O’Rourke together with Eiko Ishibashi taking place at Union Chapel on 13th April. Tickets on sale Friday 16th January at 10am.
25 years after their seminal album Any Other City, Glaswegian art-rock band Life Without Buildings play an exclusive reformation show at KOKO on 20th November. Tickets on sale Friday 16th January at 10am.
Further celebratory events will be unveiled throughout the year.
The anniversary follows a period of significant activity for Rough Trade. In 2025, the company launched its first global Album of the Year list and continued to expand its international footprint, operating seven stores across the UK, one in Berlin and two in New York, including a second, new location at Rockefeller Center alongside its existing Sixth Avenue store. The previous year, two new UK stores also opened during the year, in Liverpool and on London’s Denmark Street.
Across its venues and event spaces, Rough Trade hosted more than 1,500 live events worldwide in the past year, ranging from in-store performances to large-scale album launches and tours. Vinyl sales increased by over 20% year-on-year.
In December 2025, Rough Trade published its Top 30 Albums of the Year list, highlighting independent and genre-driven artists from the UK, US and Europe. The list featured artists including Viagra Boys, Pulp, Black Country, New Road, Lambrini Girls, Turnstile, Samia, Bon Iver, Hayley Williams, Jehnny Beth, Smerz, Brutalismus 3000 and Buntspecht. Selected artists collaborated with Rough Trade on exclusive vinyl releases and special editions available through Rough Trade stores.
Further details on the 50th anniversary plans will be announced throughout 2026.
“Reaching this 50th anniversary is a proud moment for everyone involved with Rough Trade. Since 1976, we have always been about more than just selling records; it’s been a community space built on passion and a shared love of discovery. Our 50th-anniversary program - from the essential vinyl reissues to the events is designed to honor that history while celebrating the artists and fans who continue to make Rough Trade what it is today.”
Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director, Rough Trade
“Rough Trade’s longevity comes from resisting the urge to over-design. By staying close to artists and audiences, the company evolved organically into a trusted conduit between creation and discovery. That trust, built quietly over decades, is its most enduring achievement.”
Stephen Godfroy, Director, Rough Trade
“One of the most special things about Rough Trade enduring 50 years is that it’s a brand that genuinely means something to people. For half a century, we’ve stood as a community stronghold and a place where generations of music fans come together. Being a gateway to new music isn’t only a joy, it’s a responsibility, and we’re really proud to support emerging artists and help bring their work to new fans. At the same time, our story is part of the wider celebration of the record store as an institution that keeps evolving and that remains a vital part of culture.”
Emily Waller, Global Head of Brand and Content, Rough Trade
