Current Affairs

Just Announced: “The Cost of Knowledge” is the Theme For International Open Access Week 2026

May 4, 2026

We create and share knowledge in order to advance human understanding and the common good. We recognize that accessing and sharing knowledge is a human right. Yet, the costs to access and share knowledge continue to increase, often dramatically. Why? Who benefits?

Increasing consolidation and commercial control over all aspects of knowledge comes at a cost. This year’s theme challenges us to consider the financial, human, and environmental costs of creating, sharing, and sustaining knowledge—particularly when these costs are driven by private rather than public interests. Last year’s theme of “Who owns our knowledge?” reflected on the reality of commercial ownership of knowledge. This year’s theme will reckon with the costs of that reality and avenues for reclaiming control of these systems meant to serve the public interest.

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Fortunately, there are many examples for how we can create, sustain, and share knowledge as a public good. From Indigenous Data Governance models to no-fee, non-commercial, and community-driven sustainability models for publishing, momentum is growing for approaches that treat knowledge as a common good and not a commodity to be mined. The importance of these approaches has been recognized by 193 countries in adopting the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. International Open Access Week is a time to move beyond conversations and catalyze change toward ways of sharing knowledge that honor the reasons we create knowledge in the first place.

Open Access Week 2026 will be held from October 19th through the 25th; however, anyone is encouraged to host discussions and take action whenever is most suitable during the year. Communities can adapt the theme to their local context and focus on specific conversations that are most meaningful. Customizable graphics templates are available to promote these locally adapted themes.