EXCLUDED JOURNALS FROM SCOPUS: March 2026
Scopus has published its latest database update and March 2026 is a record month for journal removals.
Sixteen journals. At once. From different countries, different fields, and different levels of perceived prestige.
Among them — journals from Greece, Jordan, Slovenia, Nigeria, Iraq, Italy, the USA and other countries. Covering philosophy, medicine, cybersecurity, mycology, computer science, signal processing, surgery and antenna engineering.
Most importantly: this month’s list includes journals published by Springer Nature and Wiley — two of the most recognised names in academic publishing. This is a critical reminder: even a prestigious publisher does not guarantee permanent Scopus indexation.
This is not an anomaly. This is how Scopus works — and it can affect any author who has submitted or accepted a paper without checking the journal’s current status first
Official List of Removed Journals — March 2026
- ISSN: 2653-9373 | E-ISSN: 2459-3842
- Publisher: NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory
- Country: Greece
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 1026-3721 | E-ISSN: 2663-6190
- Publisher: University of Jordan, Deanship of Scientific Research
- Country: Jordan
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 0276-2374
- Publisher: Sage
- Country: USA
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 1560-2745 | E-ISSN: 1878-9129
- Publisher: Springer Nature
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 1098-3511 | E-ISSN: 1522-6662
- Publisher: Forum Multimedia Publishing LLC
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 0350-5596 | E-ISSN: 1854-3871
- Publisher: Slovene Society Informatika
- Country: Slovenia
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- E-ISSN: 2457-0370
- Publisher: XLESCIENCE
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 2158-0510 | E-ISSN: 2158-0529
- Publisher: International Medical Research and Development Corporation
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- E-ISSN: 2476-1508
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- E-ISSN: 2971-8317
- Publisher: RITHA Publishing House
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 1310-4772
- Publisher: Scientific Bulgarian Communications
- Country: Bulgaria
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- E-ISSN: 2958-6542
- Publisher: Mesopotamian Academic Press
- Country: Iraq
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- E-ISSN: 2582-2659
- Publisher: Society for Communication and Computer Technologies
- Country: India
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 2734-2352 | E-ISSN: 2682-5821
- Publisher: Nigerian Institution of Professional Engineers and Scientists
- Country: Nigeria
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 0029-6236
- Publisher: Societa Editrice Dante Alighieri
- Country: Italy
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
- ISSN: 1090-3941
- Publisher: Universal Medical Press
- Country: USA
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus profile: View in Scopus
🔒 Don't submit before checking your journal
This month’s removals happened without any prior warning.
Use our free 7-point Red Flags Checklist to verify any journal in under 5 minutes — before it’s too late.
Conclusions
Sixteen journals in a single month is not a one-off event. It is a reflection of how Scopus continuously cleans its database — removing journals that no longer meet its standards or have simply ceased to operate.
Twelve journals received a Discontinuation status — meaning they no longer exist as active publications. Four more were removed due to Journal Change Policy — their editorial practices shifted to the point where Scopus could no longer verify compliance with its criteria.
What this means practically for every researcher:
• a paper submitted or accepted before a journal’s removal may not count towards academic evaluation requirements;
• publishing in a removed journal can be grounds for rejection during dissertation defence;
• grants and titles tied to Scopus publications are also put at risk.
The March 2026 update is yet another confirmation of a simple but inconvenient truth: checking your journal before submission is not overcaution — it is essential due diligence.
Researchers who base their decisions on up-to-date data, rather than a journal’s reputation from years ago, are far better protected.
Need help finding the right Scopus journal for your research? Futurity Publishing offers a professional Scopus & Web of Science journal selection and submission support service — so you submit to the right journal, first time.
