Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain’t got the faith to stand its ground
     – Bruce Springsteen, "The Promised Land"

These words are apropos to the current state of scholarly publishing. With cuts to US funding in medical and scientific research; distrust in academia, once-revered institutions, and expertise in general; shrinking academic library budgets; huge growth in proposals and publications; the effects of AI on content creation; continuing strains on the peer review process; and an uncertain (to put it mildly) political environment, our industry is in the midst of serious upheaval.

What can we do as a community to keep the faith and stand our ground in these unsettled times? How can we adhere to our core values while adapting to the ever-changing landscape? There are many unknowns, but one thing we do know is that by publishing and disseminating critical information and spreading knowledge, we serve an essential function to humanity at large.

The 2026 SSP Annual Meeting invites us to navigate a paradox: how to adapt and innovate in turbulent times while staying true to the mission of integrity at the heart of scholarly communication. What are the practical effects on content creation, workflows, and business models, as well as our relationships with authors, editors, and reviewers? Let’s gather as a community to discuss the tactics and strategies needed to face these challenges successfully.

Download the Preliminary Program for more information.