Dear Partners,
As the year draws to a close, it’s a natural moment for reflection, especially in our industry, where change is constant and long-term direction matters more than ever.
For decades, the tech world has repeated a familiar joke: “This will finally be the year of the Linux desktop.” It is a phrase that has carried equal parts optimism and irony for more than 25 years. That same question has followed Joomla for a long time as well: Will next year finally be the year of Joomla?
If success is measured purely by total market dominance, the answer may still be no. But if we look at how the web itself is changing, 2026 is shaping up to be the most pivotal year for our ecosystem in over a decade. I see three major shifts that will redefine how we, and our clients, use the web:
1. The Decline of the "Brochure" Website
We need to be honest with our clients: websites that exist only to provide generic, commonly available information are no longer a sustainable model. AI now delivers those answers directly within search results. In many cases, the cost of maintaining a basic informational site is already outweighing the value of the shrinking traffic it receives.
2. The Website as a Certificate of Authenticity
While AI can generate answers, it does not possess knowledge; it predicts text based on existing data. AI systems rely on authoritative sources to maintain accuracy. If a brand does not maintain a clear, canonical "source of truth" in the form of its own website, there is no verified data for AI to reference. The role of the website is shifting from traffic generation to authority validation.
3. The Growing Risk of "Rented Land"
We are witnessing a re-centralization of the web around AI tools and closed SaaS platforms. In 2026, this trend will increasingly be met with resistance. As vendor lock-in deepens and privacy regulations tighten, digital ownership will become a decisive factor. More clients are realizing that on rented platforms, they do not truly own their data, their audience, or their future.
So, will 2026 be the year of Joomla? Paradoxically, we may first see a decline in the total number of Joomla installations as neglected brochure sites finally disappear. But what remains will be stronger and more intentional. Joomla is uniquely positioned for this new reality. It offers a stable, sovereign foundation for building knowledge- and activity-driven platforms rather than just static pages.
My mission for 2026 is to ensure that the tools I build for you go beyond traditional extensions. They are meant to be infrastructure, the "plumbing" that helps you support your clients through this transition. I am committed to developing solutions that prioritize structured data for AI, reduce maintenance complexity, and protect digital sovereignty.
We are no longer just maintaining websites; we are building the authoritative hubs for the future of the web. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Let’s make 2026 the year we redefine what a truly powerful web presence looks like.
Best regards,
Ruud van Lent