The theme for International Open Access Week 2026, scheduled for October 19–25, is “The Cost of Knowledge.” The focus highlights the financial, human, and environmental costs associated with creating, sharing, and sustaining knowledge, particularly when these processes are shaped by private rather than public interests.
Organizers explained that the theme encourages reflection on who benefits from rising costs in scholarly communication and challenges the consolidation and commercial control of knowledge. Building on last year’s theme, “Who owns our knowledge?” the 2026 discussions will examine the consequences of commercial ownership and explore ways to reclaim systems intended to serve the public interest.
The announcement noted that costs extend beyond journal subscriptions and article processing charges. It emphasized the value of uncompensated labor contributed by authors, reviewers, and editors, and questioned whose interests this work serves. Other concerns include inequitable participation in knowledge production, lack of recognition of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, licensing of research outputs for proprietary AI training without consent, and the environmental impact of prioritizing data centers over community needs.
Organizers stated that maintaining the current system is not neutral and underscored the need for structures that reflect the interests of the communities they serve. They pointed to examples such as Indigenous Data Governance models, no‑fee and community‑driven publishing models, and the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, adopted by 193 countries, as evidence of growing momentum toward treating knowledge as a public good.
Open Access Week provides an opportunity for institutions and communities to host discussions and take action throughout the year, adapting the theme to local contexts. Graphics templates and translations of the announcement are available at openaccessweek.org.
Click here to read the original press release.
