Cambridge reaches 75 per cent open access milestone
Cambridge University Press has announced that 75% of its research articles will be published open access (OA) in 2026, while half of its journal portfolio has now transitioned to fully open access models.
The publisher says it has made more progress than any other traditional publisher in moving away from subscription-based publishing models, where readers or institutions pay to access content behind paywalls, towards making research freely available to all. While the wider scholarly publishing sector has seen the proportion of OA articles level off at just over 50%, Cambridge reports that its own OA output has continued to grow steadily, rising from 10% of research articles in 2018 to more than 75% in 2026.
Cambridge said its transformative agreement model was developed in collaboration with libraries and consortia has been instrumental. Under the model, publishing costs are agreed in advance and subscription fees are reduced proportionately where author publishing charges are incurred.
The publisher argues that, unlike approaches that can leave journals operating in a prolonged hybrid state, its agreements are designed to convert entire journals to fully open access models.
Chris Bennett, Global Commercial Director, Academic, said: “When we use the word transformative, we mean what we say. Our agreements are the engine driving whole-journal flips and taking the scholarly record into the open, permanently.”
The publisher says sustainability remains central to its strategy and that its transition timetable has been designed to protect learned societies, institutional partners and the wider research ecosystem. Under its current plans, Cambridge expects the vast majority of its journals to have transitioned to open access by 2032.
Bennett added: “Sustainable OA isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon run together with libraries, funders and societies in support of the research communities we all serve. Today’s milestone proves that deliberate, collective action works for all concerned. It’s financially sustainable and the right thing to do.
“As a sector, we must move beyond polarisation to make transformation happen. Publishers face challenges in making the transition, which is complex and if we do it too quickly the foundation that trusted academic publishing is built on will be weakened. But at the same time, we must all commit to completing this transition in a timely fashion and in a way that is sustainable for everyone.”