Open Access in 2026: Key Policy Changes for Authors and Publishers
A series of national and institutional open access mandates are taking effect in 2026, with significant implications for journals and authors publishing on Xpertia. This announcement summarises the key changes and what they mean for our community.
Plan S compliance: Journals associated with funders aligned with cOAlition S are required to offer a fully compliant open access publishing route. Xpertia now displays compliance status on each journal profile page, and our editorial team can assist publishers in applying for or confirming compliance status.
Embargo period restrictions: Several major funding bodies have reduced maximum embargo periods to six months (sciences) or twelve months (humanities). Authors publishing on funded research should verify the embargo policy of their chosen journal before submission. Our platform now shows embargo period information prominently on journal landing pages.
APC transparency: New transparency requirements mean that all Article Processing Charges (APCs) must be clearly listed before submission. All journals on Xpertia are now required to disclose APCs, including any waiver or discount policies, on their journal profile.
Xpertia will continue to update this guidance as further mandates come into effect. Authors and editors with specific questions about compliance are encouraged to contact our editorial policy team.