The Best Gifts for Music Lovers, According to Our Editors

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Shopping for music lovers isn’t an easy task. Music obsessives have a penchant for snobbery, which can make them some of the most difficult giftees to shop for come holiday season. Luckily for us here at Rolling Stone, music lovers are everywhere. And luckily for everyone else, we also know how to find the best gifts for music lovers.

To help find the best gifts, we had our staff of music-obsessed shopping editors round up gifts that any music nerd in your life will not just appreciate this holiday, but actually use throughout 2027 and beyond. These run the gamut from affordable custom wall art and earplugs to the latest and greatest headphones if you’re really looking to treat the music lover in your life.

The Best Gifts for Music Lovers

Ahead are the best gifts for music lovers during the 2026 holiday season.

Stubhub Gift Card

One of the safest gift ideas for music lovers (and almost anyone else, for that matter) is a gift card to StubHub, which will let them see the show of their choice for less. You can go low to help offset the ludicrous ticket prices we’re now used to, or go high if you really want to cover a whole show.

Loop Experience 2 Earplugs

Earplugs are a must for anyone attending shows regularly, and Loop has become the industry go-to. Options like these Experience 2 earplugs work to lower the volume of live music while retaining all the detail, keeping ears safe while letting the wearer enjoy the show as normal.

Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 Controller

DJ controllers are the new guitars. If you have an aspiring DJ on your list — or anyone who likes to host parties — they’ll be thrilled to unwrap this Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4. The entry-level controller is a great introduction to the technology, and it’s relatively affordable as far as music gear goes.

This Is Your Brain on Music

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession has been out for two decades, but it’s still one of the best reads for anyone interested in the art. Written by neuroscientist, musician, and record producer Daniel J. Levitin, the book explores how we hear music and why it moves us.

Custom Vinyl Lyrics Print

If you know a song that your giftee loves, this wall art is a thoughtful gift. It presents the song lyrics as a vinyl record, and the whole design is minimal and tasteful enough to fit most interior decor looks. You also get several size and frame options to choose from.

Custom Leather Guitar Strap

For guitar players, pick up one of these customizable straps. They’re made using soft calf leather, and your message is engraved (instead of painted or printed on). Besides the actual message, you’ll be able to choose the font and the position, and you can even add a photo.

Retro Vinyl Record Coasters

An easy, affordable gift for music lovers (or white elephant parties) is these cute record coasters. They’re made of vinyl to feel like the real thing and feature unique album covers on each one in the pack of six.

Sonos Play Speaker

Sonos’ new Play speaker bridges the gap between a home device and a portable, offering great sound everywhere. This makes it ideal for college students and recent grads setting up a first apartment.

Technics A1000 Headphones

One of the best pairs of headphones to come out this past year is Technics’ A1000. The cans are based around an advanced 40mm Magnetic Fluid Driver that produces the kind of crisp, natural sound audiophiles will appreciate.

Mini Karaoke Machine

A mini karaoke machine like this one can turn any hangout into a party. The little machine includes two microphones and surprisingly loud sound for its size.

Grateful Dead x Knicks T-Shirt

If you’re shopping for a music lover who’s also a sports fan, this summer’s Grateful Dead x Knicks merch is a slam dunk.

Fender Play Subscription

A subscription to Fender Play is a great choice for aspiring guitar players. The online learning platform helps beginner and intermediate players improve through high-quality, bite-size videos and exercises.

Rolling Stone Subscription

A subscription to the authority on music and culture is a great gift for anyone. And no, we’re not biased.

Audio-Technica AT-SB727 Sound Burger

Vinyl has been back for a while now, and brands are putting out some very cool record players, including ones with reasonable price tags. Our favorite budget-friendly record player — which also makes a great gift — is this unique Sound Burger from Audio-Technica.

Gueray Portable Bluetooth Desktop CD Player

CD players also made a comeback recently. Luckily for us gifters, there are some very fun, affordable options out there, like this colorful player from Gueray.

Minimalist Acoustic Wall Panels

If your giftee plays music at home (especially drums) or just likes their speakers loud, these acoustic wall panels will let them do it without disturbing others.

Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!

One of the best music-book releases of the year was Liza Minnelli’s autobiography, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! The book gives readers a look at the EGOT winner’s life and career, including her Hollywood upbringing and reflections at nearly 80 years old.