Exclusion of journals from Scopus for February 2026

Scopus continues to regularly review the list of indexed academic journals. In February 2026, several journals were excluded from the database, some of which had previously been used by authors to publish articles in economics, mathematics, energy studies, and other related fields. Updates to such lists are especially important for researchers, lecturers, doctoral students, and anyone planning publications in the Scopus database.

The reasons for exclusion may vary, ranging from discontinued indexing and changes in editorial policy to revised selection standards or a journal’s failure to meet the current requirements of the database. For authors, this has practical significance, because if a journal has lost its indexing, a publication in it will no longer be considered an article in an active Scopus source. For this reason, before submitting a manuscript, it is necessary to additionally verify the journal’s status using the latest updates.

So why are academic journals excluded from Scopus, and what are the reasons?

• publication of materials with low scientific significance and weak contribution to the development of the research field
• violation of academic ethics, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and other forms of unethical publishing practice
• identification of anomalies in scientometric indicators, for example, a sharp increase in the number of articles, citations, or other metrics that raise doubts
• failure to comply with Scopus requirements for journal quality, including problems with peer review, editorial policy, and the scientific level of published papers
• changes in journal policy, which may be reflected in lower requirements for articles, a shift in subject focus, or deterioration in overall editorial control

List of academic journals excluded from Scopus in February 2026

What are the reasons for the exclusions?

Most journals on this list received the mark Discontinuation, which means indexing in the database has been discontinued. In other words, the journal is no longer included in the active Scopus list.
A separate case is Perinatal Journal, for which the reason given is Journal change policy. This wording usually indicates significant changes in the journal’s policy, editorial approach, or publishing model, as a result of which its status in the database was reconsidered.

For researchers, this once again confirms that relying only on outdated information about a journal is not enough. Even if a journal was previously indexed in Scopus, its status may change at any time. Before submitting an article, it is necessary to check not only the journal’s website, but also the current database lists, ISSN, publisher details, and the history of changes. This helps avoid situations in which an author spends time, money, and effort on publication in a journal that no longer has valid indexing.

Subscribe to our social media pages and follow our blog to always stay informed about news from the world of science and scientometrics. We regularly publish updated data on excluded journals and analyze current trends in the academic environment.

Planning to publish in Scopus but not sure which journal to choose? Scientific Publications company will help you verify the journal’s status, select a suitable platform, and support your article at every stage. Leave a request below to receive a free consultation from our specialists. Together toward a successful publication!