Open Access Status Update for Mathematics Journals in 2026

Details

Published on 11 May 2026

Paris, France 8 May 2026. EDP Sciences and the Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles (SMAI) confirms that Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena and ESAIM: Probability and Statistics will remain fully open access in 2026 under the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model.

These two journals have reached the required level of institutional support to secure open access for the coming year. Their position demonstrates that the S2O model can work when there is sufficient and timely commitment from the community.

For the remaining four journals in the mathematics portfolio* under the S2O model, the situation is still under review. At this stage, subscription targets have not yet been met, and their open access status for 2026 cannot be confirmed. Over the coming weeks, EDP Sciences will continue to assess renewal levels in close dialogue with institutional partners. Without sufficient support, these journals may need to revert to gated access.

“The confirmation of open access for two journals shows that this model works when institutions actively support it,” said Nicolas Forcadel, Director of Publications at SMAI. “However, without sufficient renewals, our other titles will not be able to remain open access. The next few weeks are critical, and the outcome will depend directly on the level of support from the community.”

The S2O model offers a route to open access that avoids article processing charges, supports equity in publishing, and maintains the link between journals and the institutions that sustain them. However, it requires timely and ongoing commitment from subscribing institutions.

EDP Sciences remains firmly committed to making mathematics research openly available wherever possible. The objective is to provide immediate and unrestricted access to high-quality content, while ensuring that the model remains financially sustainable and fair to the community it serves.

Further updates will be shared as decisions are finalised.

*The six mathematics journals participating in the S2O programme for 2026 are: ESAIM: Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations; ESAIM: Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Analysis; ESAIM: Probability and Statistics; Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena; RAIRO – Operations Research; and RAIRO – Theoretical Informatics and Applications.