Eric Clapton is giving guitar fans a chance to get their hands on pieces inspired by some of the most important instruments of his career.
Guitar Center unveiled its 2026 Exclusive Crossroads Guitar Collection on Aug. 26, a limited-edition lineup created in collaboration with Clapton, 81, and guitar brands Martin, Fender and Ernie Ball.
The collection arrives ahead of the 2026 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Austin, Texas, and there’s a meaningful reason behind the collaboration: proceeds support Crossroads Centre Antigua, the addiction treatment center Clapton founded in 1998.
For Clapton, the guitars represent something much deeper than collectibles.
“Music has always been my most reliable source of inspiration, or salvation,” he said in a statement. “These guitars are sacred things to me.”
Eric Clapton’s Most Famous Guitars Inspired the Collection
The new collection builds on more than two decades of collaboration between Clapton, Guitar Center and the Crossroads organization.
Their relationship dates back to 2004, when Guitar Center purchased several of Clapton’s historic instruments at the Crossroads Guitar Auction. Among them were his famous Blackie Fender Stratocaster, his Cream-era Gibson ES-335 and a Martin 00-21 once owned by George Harrison.
Those instruments eventually became part of Guitar Center’s Legends Collection, which is displayed at the company’s Hollywood flagship store.
Clapton’s Blackie Stratocaster has proven particularly influential. A Guitar Center recreation of the legendary guitar sold out in just four hours after its 2006 release.
More recently, the exclusive Gibson Custom Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul sold out in less than 12 hours following its 2025 debut.
The 2026 collection continues that tradition with handcrafted acoustic guitars, recreations inspired by Clapton’s electric guitars and accessories.
Guitar Center Is Bringing Clapton’s Guitars to the Crossroads Festival
The collection will also be showcased at The Guitar Center Experience during the 2026 Crossroads Guitar Festival at Austin’s Moody Center.
Festivalgoers will be able to see the new guitars up close, shop exclusive merchandise and explore instruments from brands including Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS and Ernie Ball.
Two particularly important guitars from Guitar Center’s Legends Collection will also be on display: Clapton’s original Blackie Stratocaster and his Cream-era Gibson ES-335.
The weekend will include another major guitar-world moment, as Paul Reed Smith, founder of PRS Guitars, is inducted into Guitar Center’s RockWalk.
And John Mayer will debut his limited-edition PRS Silver Sky “Crossroads” model onstage during the festival.
For Clapton fans, the collection offers something beyond a piece of rock memorabilia. Every purchase helps support the treatment center that has been part of the guitarist’s philanthropic work for nearly three decades, giving these instruments a connection to both Clapton’s musical history and his life away from the stage.
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