Bruno Mars Named 2026 Record Store Day Ambassador

From a new album to a new world tour, Bruno Mars is readying a global takeover in 2026 — and that includes Record Store Day, which falls April 18.

Record Store Day announced on Friday (Jan. 30) Mars would serve as its 2026 ambassador, coinciding with the forthcoming release of his album The Romantic (out Feb. 27 via Atlantic) and its accompanying stadium world tour. He joins an esteemed list of RSD ambassadors, including Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Paramore, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack White, Chuck D, Pearl Jam and Metallica.

“You get the chance to immerse yourself, surround yourself with music,” Mars mused about record stores in a statement. “I love being able to physically be surrounded by music. Not just staring at your phone and downloading something or listening to something on your phone, but to actually see all of this beautiful art around you. It inspires me.”

As the 2026 Record Store Day ambassador, Mars will partner with record stores to roll out The Romantic, hosting listening parties at more than 200 record stores across the U.S. on Feb. 25, granting fans an exclusive advanced listen to the new album. Mars dropped “I Just Might,” the set’s lead single, at the top of January, and it’s already spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking his milestone 10th chart-topper. A full list of participating stores can be found at the Record Store Day website, and fans can contact individual shops for times and details.

Mars will also contribute to the annual list of special Record Store Day releases with The Collaborations, a compilation featuring his smash hits with Mark Ronson (“Uptown Funk”), Lady Gaga (“Die With A Smile”) and ROSÉ (“APT.”). The Collaborations follows “The Grenade Sessions” 10″ single, Mars’ contribution to Record Store Day 2012, and the first vinyl pressing of his It’s Better If You Don’t Understand EP, which he shared for last year’s RSD Black Friday. The Collaborations will be available at participating record stores on April 18, just a week after Mars kicks off his Romantic Tour at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev.

The full list of 2026 Record Store Day special releases will be revealed in the coming weeks. On Sunday (Feb. 1), Mars will perform at the 2026 Grammy ceremony, where he’s up for record of the year, song of the year and best pop duo/group performance alongside BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ for their collab, “APT.” At the 2025 Grammys, he picked up his 16th career Grammy for his Lady Gaga collab “Die With a Smile,” which clinched best pop duo/group performance.

Watch Bruno Mars kick off his Record Store Day ambassadorial year with a crate-digging visit to Moondog Records in Las Vegas, below: