Farewell and greetings from the outgoing and incoming editors: editorial

After six years as Editor-in-Chief, Miguel A. Alonso will conclude his term, and Carsten Rockstuhl will take over the role on January 1, 2026. Just as the leadership of <i>Optics Letters</i> is changing, so are the publishing landscape, the field of optics and photonics, and the way in which scientists pursue their research activity. These changes prompted us to reflect on the past and future of the Journal in a permanently evolving environment.