What Scholarly Publishers Must Prioritise in 2026

By Team ResearchBunny

The world of scholarly publishing keeps changing not just because of technology, but because of who is reading research, why they’re reading it, and how they act on it. Two years ago, sector thought-leaders identified five major areas for publishers to focus on: growing quality submissions, delighting authors, building brand, expanding audiences, and leveraging emerging communities.

In 2026, those themes have evolved. Publishers who want to lead will centre on these interconnected priorities:

1. From Quality Submissions to Meaningful Action

It’s no longer sufficient to measure success simply by the number of article submissions or citations. Publishers must ask:

• Does this research connect with practice, policy or public understanding?
• Is it accessible and understandable to more than just the academic circle?
• Are we enabling authors whose work makes tangible difference even if their publication venue is smaller or local?

In doing so, publishers shift from output-centric to outcome-centric. Local studies, context-specific research, and multilingual accessibility become as important as “prestige journal” placement.

2. From Author Delight to Author Empowerment & Visibility

Authors are not simply content providers. They are partners. In 2026, publishers succeed by:

• Providing intuitive author tools (AI-driven summaries, multilingual production, audio/visual formats)
• Offering transparent metrics that show not just downloads, but reach, engagement and real-world use
• Helping authors build visibility beyond academia (in industry, policy, global communities)

When authors feel their work is seen, heard and used, the value proposition of scholarly publishing expands.

3. From Audience Expansion to Audience Engagement + Equity

Broadening audiences remains crucial, but what distinguishes top publishers now is how they engage them and who they don’t leave behind. Focus must include:

• Multilingual, mobile-first access so research reaches non-English-speaking regions
• Formats that work for non-specialists (podcasts, infographics, short-form audio)
• Building communities around shared topics (not just journals) where researchers, practitioners and the public connect
• Ensuring equity: supporting and showcasing research from under-represented regions, smaller institutions, emerging scholars

4. From Brand Building to Trust & Purpose Branding

A publishing brand used to revolve around name, journals and impact factor. In 2026, it’s about purpose. Are you known for:

• Transparency (peer-review process, data, ethics)
• Discoverability (clear pathways for non-academic users)
• Relevance (aligning with real-world issues, e.g., health, climate, development)
• Integrity (standing against predatory practices, promoting open science)

Publishers who embed these values into their model not only grow their brand, they reinforce trust in research.

5. From Emerging Communities to Co-creation Ecosystems

The “released article → reader” model is breaking down. Instead, publishing ecosystems in 2026 look like networks: authors, practitioners, policy makers, communities, funders. Publishers should:

• Engage non-academic stakeholders early (co-designing special issues, community reviews, public summaries)
• Leverage partnerships (institutions, NGOs, platforms like ResearchBunny) to turn publications into action
• Support community-led research reflection (forums, multilingual groups, local data interpretation)

In short: publishing is less about closed journals, and more about open conversations.

📌 Taking Action: What Publishers Can Do Right Now

Here are tangible steps to align with these priorities:

• Audit your submission pool: which papers are being used outside academia? Highlight them.
• Introduce alternative formats: offer authors audio summaries, multilingual transcripts, social reels. Tools like ResearchBunny helps
• Create “impact dashboards” for authors: show not just citations, but downloads, mentions, policy linkages, geography of readers.
• Develop topic-based collections (not just journal issues) that target global challenges and communities.
• Partner with platforms like ResearchBunny to make research accessible, mobile-ready and listener-friendly.
• Embed ethical, transparent practices: review your peer-review workflow, author services, and how you communicate research integrity and open access.

✨ Why This Matters

Research today must travel further, faster and more accessibly than ever. The true value of scholarship lies not just in publication but in understanding and use. Publishers who embrace this shift will not only drive better visibility and citations, they’ll drive real influence, trust, and global impact.

At ResearchBunny, we’re excited to partner with publishers, authors and communities to make that happen. Because when research is truly accessible, it becomes a shared resource not just for scientists, but for society.

🧩 Are you ready to move from publication to participation?
Let’s build the research ecosystem of 2026, together.

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