Wiley Gold Open Access Publishing Cap – Plan Ahead for November
The CAUL-Wiley Read & Publish agreement for 2026 is currently on track to exhaust its funding cap for fully open access (Gold) journals in November. Once this happens, researchers publishing in Wiley’s Gold journals will no longer have article processing charges (APCs) covered.
What’s affected?
Wiley’s Gold journals only. The cap covers 2,106 open access publications by all participating institutions. CAUL’s Cap Usage tracker is currently forecasting that we will reach the cap sometime during November 2026. The exact date may change depending on publishing activity during the next few months.
Wiley’s Hybrid journals remain unaffected – the 2026 agreement provides unlimited coverage.
What you need to do
If you’re planning to publish in a Wiley Gold open access journal:
- You must use your Deakin email address to qualify
- Don’t delay completing your post-acceptance paperwork – in addition to your article being accepted, this step must be completed before the cap is reached
If your article is accepted after the cap is reached, you’ll need to cover APCs through your research funds or other sources.
Get personalised advice from the Library
Uncertain whether your journal qualifies or how the agreement affects your publishing plan or funder open access requirements? Contact your Scholarly Services Librarians. They can review your specific situation, help you navigate the agreement, and explore alternative options if needed.
You can check journal coverage and determine whether an eligible journal is Hybrid or Gold open access using Where Should I Publish or CAUL’s title list.
A familiar frustration
This isn’t new – capped agreements have been exhausted for several years running, and we know it’s frustrating. The good news: CAUL has successfully negotiated the removal of caps across all of our other publisher agreements.
Questions?
Contact the Library for advice on the agreement or email Wiley directly at cs-openaccess@wiley.com.