Record Store Day in Indianapolis, Indiana
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Indianapolis, Indiana
Independent record shops open in Indianapolis, Indiana right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- CTYZN Records
Father-and-son-run record shop in the Carmel Arts & Design District selling vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and thrifted music finds; the first dedicated record store in Carmel, opened January 2026.
3 sources
- Indy CD & Vinyl
Indiana's largest independent record store, in the heart of Broad Ripple. Deep new/used LP, CD, and cassette selection, turntables, in-store venue (The 808), and repeat NUVO/IndyStar 'Best Record Store' wins.
2 sources
- Irvington Vinyl & Books
Irvington's 'home for neat, weird, and local' - used records, books, cassettes, VHS, zines and ephemera under owner Elysia Smith, with appraisal services and community events like a queer book club.
2 sources
- Karma Records (East)
Indiana's oldest independent record store lineage (founded 1970), east-side location running since 1975. Thousands of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes and DVDs under owners Jim Ector and Jeff Wicks.
2 sources
- Karma Records (West)
Second currently-operating Karma Records location, known for a deep metal/soundtrack selection alongside used vinyl, cassettes, rap and hip-hop, with a vintage mom-and-pop feel.
1 source
- Luna Music
Broad Ripple institution since 1994 with tens of thousands of new and used vinyl LPs across all genres, plus CDs, cassettes, turntables, in-shop performances, and a 'We Buy Vinyl!' program.
2 sources
- Roundabout Records
Vinyl dealer specializing in hard-to-find records across eras and genres, operating a stall inside the Antique Emporium of Carmel alongside an active Discogs storefront.
2 sources
- Square Cat Vinyl
Fountain Square record shop, performance venue, and bar in one. New and used vinyl (classics plus local/independent acts), CDs, coffee and beer; named one of the best record stores in the US by Vinyl Me Please.
5 sources
- Take Care Records
New Allisonville Road vinyl shop opened by J. Rogers (of the band Everything Now), a former Square Cat Vinyl staffer. Curated new and classic vinyl, CDs, cassettes and movies in a personal, community-focused space.
1 source
- Turntable
Broad Ripple listening room and concert venue from Forty5: a vinyl listening room and bar up front opens into a full concert hall in back, next to The Vogue. 18+ entry.
4 sources
See the full record store listing for Indianapolis, Indiana.