Following the resounding success of its inaugural year, we are excited to announce the opening of submissions for the 2026 SSP EPIC Awards—Excellence in Publishing, Information Technology, and Communications.
The first-ever EPIC Awards, hosted by Anna Jester and Gwen Weerts at our 47th Annual Meeting, brought the community together in a lively celebration of creativity and achievement. Out of more than 90 impressive entries, 40 winners were recognized for their contributions across publishing, technology, marketing, media, and social impact. The enthusiasm and engagement around the program underscored the vital role of innovation in driving scholarly communication forward.
Building on that momentum, the 2026 EPIC Awards will once again shine a spotlight on organizations—and the teams behind them—who are pushing boundaries and delivering transformative work in scholarly publishing. Categories include:
- Tools and Products: Technological innovations supporting the publishing lifecycle, such as submission platforms, hosting services, and author or integrity tools.
- Publications: Outstanding journals, books, magazines, reports, and short-form content.
- Marketing: Innovative branding, campaigns, and community engagement strategies.
- Media: Creative projects such as podcasts, videos, data visualizations, and digital humanities initiatives.
- Initiatives: Programs advancing equity, accessibility, sustainability, and education, including student publication continuity efforts.
Each entry will be carefully evaluated by a diverse panel of industry professionals, with top submissions recognized for setting benchmarks of excellence and inspiring progress across the field. Special recognition will also continue for student-led publications, elevating emerging voices in scholarly communication.
“The inaugural EPIC Awards highlighted the incredible creativity and commitment that fuels our industry. We were thrilled to see such a diverse range of entries and winners, and I can’t wait to see how the 2026 submissions will continue to inspire, challenge, and elevate the field of scholarly publishing.” – Emma Hennessey, EPIC Awards Committee Co-chair.
“Last year’s EPIC Awards confirmed just how much innovation and collaboration are shaping scholarly communication today. With the 2026 program, we’re excited to build on that momentum and spotlight the teams and organizations who are setting new standards for excellence across the publishing ecosystem.” – Lisa Cunningham, EPIC Awards Committee Co-chair.
The submission window runs from October 1 to November 28, 2025. Full details on eligibility, guidelines, and judging standards are available. Applications for judges will also open on November 3, welcoming professionals from across the industry to bring diverse perspectives to the evaluation process.
The SSP EPIC Awards winners will be announced at SSP’s highly anticipated 48th Annual Meeting in Chula Vista, CA, May 27–29, 2026. Winners and finalists will receive their awards at the EPIC Awards Celebration, where the industry will come together to recognize the invaluable contributions of the scholarly communications community.
