Introduction
In 2026, the world of scientific publishing will undergo transformations comparable only to the digital revolution of the past decade. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence, the intensification of global challenges such as climate disasters and the crisis of democracies, as well as the reshaping of academic approaches, are creating a new reality in the field of research. In this new reality, it is not those who publish frequently who survive, but those who stay on trend.
According to the Academy of Articles’ analysis, the topics included in this review have the highest potential to be highly cited in 2026. This is supported by data from Scopus, scientometric analysis, the editorial plans of scientific journals, and signals from major international conferences.
This analytical article provides a systematic overview of the thematic areas that will be the focus of English-language scientific publications indexed in Scopus. We do more than simply identify popular topics; we highlight strategic growth areas that editors, researchers, and research funders around the world are focusing on.
For convenience and deeper analysis, all topics are grouped by key scientific fields, with an emphasis on their relevance, citation rates, practical significance, and potential to influence policies, practices, and technologies. This is not a list of “buzzwords”; it is a compass for those who want their research to go beyond the confines of PDF archives.
Separately, as part of this review, we introduced a marker "Trending Topics of 2026". For those fields where the Academy’s article catalog already includes collections of trending articles for co-authorship (education/pedagogy, economic sciences, technical sciences/computer science), we’ve added links to the relevant sections and brief instructions on how to reserve a spot for co-authorship.
EDUCATION
AI Agents in Education
Personalized AI agents are becoming the new standard in digital learning. They can adapt content, guide students throughout the learning process, and simulate social interaction. A surge in publications at the intersection of pedagogy, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science is expected.
AI Governance and Policy in Education
With the rapid adoption of AI in education, there is a growing need for ethical, legal, and governance frameworks. This area will become particularly important for university research related to the implementation of internal AI policies.
Mental Health, Burnout, and Well-being in Digital Education
Digital overload, isolation, and the aftermath of COVID-19 are bringing mental health to the forefront. In 2026–2027, the topics of emotional burnout and well-being in online education will gain renewed relevance in educational and psychological journals.
AI-Assisted Personalized Learning Systems in Higher Education
AI-based adaptive learning systems make it possible to automate the creation of personalized learning paths. This is a key trend for universities seeking to improve the effectiveness of learning in a mass education setting.
Inclusivity and Bridging Educational Gaps
Inclusion is no longer limited to accessibility for people with disabilities. In 2026, there will be a growing focus on digital inequality, regional disparities, and educational exclusion caused by AI. Cross-sectoral research at the intersection of technology, sociology, and education policy is expected to emerge.
How to Choose a Topic and Reserve a Spot as a Co-Author in Education/Pedagogy
Go to the "Topics" section of the catalog, and in the block "Trending Articles 2026" Choose a topic, submit a co-authorship request, and an Article Academy manager will contact you to reserve your spot as a co-author and explain the next steps.
ECONOMY
Sustainable Development and the "Green" Economy
Against the backdrop of intensifying climate crises and global environmental commitments, demand is growing for research on the green economy, decarbonization, green infrastructure, and ESG strategies. Citation rates will remain consistently high.
The Digital Economy, Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence
Financial markets are undergoing a transformation driven by AI, blockchain, and big data. Articles on the regulation of digital assets, digital currencies, and FinTech solutions for financial inclusion will be particularly popular in economics and management journals.
Automation, AI, and the Future of Work
AI and automation are changing the structure of the labor market, posing a threat to certain professions while simultaneously creating demand for new skills. This has sparked a wave of research in the fields of labor economics, education, and social policy.
Inequality and Inclusive Growth / Socioeconomic Inequality
Post-pandemic inequality, access to digital resources, and income gaps—these topics remain the focus of global economic institutions and academic publications. They are highly relevant to the SDGs.
How to Choose a Topic and Reserve a Spot for Co-authorship in the Field of Economics
Go to the "Topics" section of the catalog, and in the block "Trending Articles 2026" Choose a topic, submit a co-authorship request, and an Article Academy manager will contact you to reserve your spot as a co-author and explain the next steps.
LINGUISTICS
Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence. Computational Linguistics
NLP (Natural Language Processing) technologies are transforming linguistics: from syntax to semantics. Between 2024 and 2025, the number of publications in this field increased rapidly. In 2026, an even more rapid increase in publications on AI language models, text analysis, machine translation, and multimodal interfaces is expected.
Multilingualism and Translanguaging
Language mixing, population mobility, and online communication are creating new linguistic realities. Research on translation, language planning, and the promotion of linguistic diversity will be particularly relevant in applied and sociolinguistic contexts.
LEGAL SCIENCES
Regulation of Artificial Intelligence and Big Tech
The legal framework is struggling to keep up with technology. Research on the AI Act, digital markets, Big Tech monopolies, and algorithmic law will be at the forefront of legal publications.
Constitutional Law and the Crisis of Democracy
Populism, authoritarianism, and the erosion of democratic institutions are sparking a surge in publications. Constitutional guarantees in times of political instability are a key focus of comparative law.
International Law and War
Conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, are bringing issues such as the law of war, the protection of civilians, cybersecurity, and the legality of interventions to the forefront. This will be an extremely sensitive but frequently cited research area in Scopus and Web of Science.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Impact of AI Chatbots on Voters' Opinions
Political communication involving AI is a new field of research. Disinformation, manipulation, and microtargeting through artificial intelligence will be the subject of in-depth analysis in political science journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science.
Deglobalization and the New World Order
Global supply chains, the rise of nationalism, and regionalization are shifting the focus from globalization to new models of international relations. This opens the door to new conceptual publications.
Regime Change and Democratization
Transitional periods, resistance to authoritarianism, and crises in liberal democracy—these topics will take center stage in pre-election political analysis in many regions.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Research Automation (AI-Assisted Research)
The scientific process itself is becoming the subject of automation: hypothesis generation, literature review, and model building. This is a groundbreaking field that is transforming the very methodology of scientific research.
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Protection of Confidentiality
In a world shaped by the GDPR and against the backdrop of AI advancements, cybersecurity is taking center stage. Publications are focusing on cryptography, personal data protection, and ethical system design.
Quantum-resistant encryption
Preparing for the era of quantum computers is creating a new niche in IT research. Algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum machines are becoming the focus of competition among technical universities and laboratories.
How to Choose a Topic and Secure a Co-Author Position in Technical/Computer Sciences
Go to the section of the technical sciences catalog, in the block "Trending Articles 2026" You can browse topics in IT, AI, cybersecurity, and engineering, select an option, and submit a request to become a co-author—after that, a manager will contact you to reserve your spot as a co-author and explain the next steps.
MEDICINE
Telemedicine and Wearable Medical Devices
Mobile devices and remote health monitoring platforms are driving a wave of research in the fields of chronic diseases, prediagnostics, and the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into medicine.
Mental Health
The post-pandemic period and digital overload have led to increased attention to mental health issues. Research on the impact of social media, isolation, and digital technologies on mental health is particularly relevant.
Integrating AI into Medical Research
AI is already being used in diagnostics, risk prediction, and the search for new drugs. A wave of publications related to multimodal AI, image analysis, and big data analytics in medicine is expected in 2026.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Adaptation to Climate Change
The research focuses on urban resilience, adaptive agricultural technologies, and water resource protection. The publications are geared toward implementing solutions at the local level.
Decarbonization of the economy
The energy transition, innovations in renewable energy, and carbon accounting systems form the foundation of green research for the coming years.
Smart Cities and the Circular Economy
The combination of digital technologies and environmental awareness is driving the development of urban innovations: zero waste, smart logistics, and autonomous infrastructure.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Interdisciplinary research that directly addresses the SDGs receives preferential treatment in terms of publication, funding, and citations. By 2026, this will be a mandatory criterion for relevance for leading Scopus and Web of Science journals.
TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES IN 2026
In 2026, the popularity of certain formats of scientific articles is expected to remain steady or increase. Open science practices significantly expand the audience of researchers who can access the work, and thus increase the number of citations. In particular, it has been shown that open-access articles receive more citations, and these citations come from a broader range of researchers (from different countries, institutions, and fields) compared to publications behind a paywall. Therefore, in 2026, we will see an increase in the number of articles published in the Open Access format.
1) Systematic literature reviews
Systematic review articles, which synthesize the results of numerous studies using a standardized methodology, continue to gain popularity and credibility. In the medical and educational sciences, such reviews are considered the “gold standard” of secondary research and are often cited extensively. This is because systematic reviews provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on a specific issue, help identify gaps in primary research, and suggest directions for future work. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of systematic reviews grew exponentially, and this trend is expected to continue. However, the editorial boards of Scopus and Web of Science journals expect systematic reviews to be of increasingly higher quality and to draw on a broader range of sources.
2) Meta-analyses
Meta-analyses—quantitative syntheses of data from multiple studies—are typically published alongside systematic reviews or as a component of them. In the era of evidence-based science (especially medicine), meta-analyses have gained significant popularity and credibility. They are frequently cited because they provide convincing answers to controversial questions and establish new scientific conclusions based on the body of evidence. In 2026, the number of meta-analyses in the medical and social sciences is expected to continue to grow, particularly on current topics in public health and psychology.
3) Applied Research
Articles that demonstrate the practical application of scientific findings or propose solutions to specific problems are increasingly coming to the forefront. Applied (translational) research in engineering, computer science, biomedicine, and other fields will be highly prominent, as it addresses the needs of industry, medicine, and society. Journals are paying significant attention to works that demonstrate the implementation of technologies in real life, the development of prototypes, clinical applications, policy recommendations, and so on. Such articles receive support from grant-making organizations and are frequently cited, as their relevance is evident. In 2026, the trend toward bridging the gap between science and practice will continue—from research in the field of climate action to new AI tools for business.
CONCLUSIONS
In 2026, the world of scientific publications will be defined by interdisciplinarity, technological innovation, and a focus on impact. The focus will be on topics that combine AI, sustainable development, social transformations, and global challenges. Various scientific fields are showing a growing interest in the practical value of research, inclusivity, digital equity, and the ethical use of technology.
Open access and new formats of scientific articles—in particular, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and applied research—will play a significant role. Publications that include a comprehensive analysis, transparent methodology, and offer practical solutions have the greatest chance of being cited and having an impact.
With this in mind, researchers should focus not only on trending topics but also on the format and quality of their work, since it is the combination of relevance and scientific integrity that will shape the face of scientific progress in 2026.
