Cambridge University Press has announced that 75 percent of its research articles will be published open access (OA) in 2026, with half of its journals now fully open. This marks a significant step in the publisher’s transition away from subscription-based models, where access is restricted to paying institutions or individuals, toward openly available research.
Across the wider academic publishing sector, OA growth has slowed, with the proportion of articles plateauing at just over 50 percent. Cambridge’s share has risen from 10 percent in 2018 to more than 75 percent in 2026, positioning it ahead of many traditional publishers in terms of portfolio conversion.
The report notes that OA has become a global priority, driven by funders seeking to ensure publicly funded research is freely accessible. While the transition has been welcomed, concerns remain about stalled progress and costs associated with hybrid models, including “double dipping,” where libraries pay subscription fees alongside author publishing charges.
Cambridge has sought to address these concerns through its transformative agreement model, developed with libraries and consortia. Under this approach, publishing costs are agreed in advance, and subscription fees are reduced proportionally to author publishing fees. The model is designed to flip entire journals to OA, avoiding prolonged hybrid arrangements. Over the past three years, more than 130 journals have transitioned to full OA, with 18 more scheduled later this year across disciplines such as law, linguistics, life sciences, and public health.
Safeguards have also been introduced to support equitable participation. These include pricing transparency policies and the Cambridge Open Equity Initiative, which waives publication fees for authors in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries. The publisher has emphasized that sustainability is central to its approach, with a paced transition intended to protect societies, institutions, and the broader research ecosystem. Current plans aim for the majority of journals to be fully open by 2032.
Chris Bennett, Global Commercial Director, Academic at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, stated that the agreements are designed to drive whole-journal transitions and ensure permanent openness. He explained that sustainable OA requires collective action with libraries, funders, and societies, and described the milestone as evidence that deliberate, collaborative approaches can balance financial sustainability with the needs of research communities.
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