VinylCon! Los Angeles 2026 - Saturday @ California Market Center (03/21/26)

Soundtrack for this Adventure:

"i'll go on loving someone else =version orchestre=' by Shiro SAGISU

Greetings!

I totally missed VinylCon! Los Angeles 2025 last Spring. Came down with a bad case of FOMO upon that realization. So, I made a note for 2026... which is something I hardly ever do. This wanderer tends to live his life day by day. Month by Month. "Whatever happens, happens..." I always say. However, I didn't want to feel sad about missing a really cool event full of wax again. So... I made a note and kept the event in sight.

And I'm glad I did because I had a wonderful time at this year's VinylCon!, which made its return to the California Market Center in Downtown Los Angeles. Making the trek to the big city for an crate diving afternoon made everything feel like a big deal, you know? Being surrounded by other devoted vinyl lovers, collectors, and vendors looking to share our collective musical passion could be felt upon entering that elevator. A private space made just for us.

I wasn't looking for anything in particular. Just wanted to wander around, capture the moment, and do a little pricing research. Because this collector is currently in the process of slimming down his physical media library... so adding more pieces isn't ideal right now.

(I can't wait to update y'all on that big project around Summertime!)

Staying within my budget of $100 was my ultimate goal & we succeeded nicely despite being tempted by so many tables! The one booth that entrapped me was Helix Sounds LA, which specializes in Japanese Imports. My one kryptonite! Wouldn't flinch at a "First Printing 9.5 graded 'Darkside of the Moon'" but will immediately fold upon seeing anything Neon Genesis Evangelion related. Didn't mind paying over market value for a clean copy of Shirō Sagisu's score to 2021's 'Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0: Thrice Upon A Time' either. Of course my collection desperately needed it! (See pictures below)

(Shopaholic lies I continue to tell myself...)

I spent the rest of my time walking the floor multiple times as all the patrons slowly moved from booth to booth searching for their holy grails and unexpected finds (while The Gaslamp Killer provided the soundtrack for the floor). You could've spent all day if you're meticulous in your digging ways. Luckily, VinylCon is a two-day event! Yes, others might need multiple days because almost every booth had a crowd. Most weren't even looking at the bins on the floor either! Vinyl hunting isn't for the impatient so just move along if you're not compelled enough.

The slideshow below captures that initial time period when the event opened its doors to the public around Noon. VIP ticket holders got in two-hours before and I feel that would be the ideal start time... if you (and I) were a collector on a the hunt or wanted to browse without the busyness. Otherwise, arrive whenever! They even had small amount of food and beverage options if you got an urge. For coffee and vinyl remain the perfect pairing on a Saturday afternoon.

Overall, really enjoyed my time at VinylCon! LA 2026! Perusing for vinyl gems & random people watching are like my two favorite things on any adventure. And honestly... I might have to start siphoning off a cut of the paycheck so I could go all out next year, you know? I WILL have more space on my shelf after this summer's record purge, right!?

Thanks for reading! Enjoy our candid photos as another long-awaited RSD Adventure arrives next week!!!