*Here's your quick overview of what has been happening around Wikidata in the week leading up to 2026-02-16. Missed the previous one? See issue #718 https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikidata:Status_updates/Previous.*
*Discussions*
- Open request for adminship: Sjö https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Requests_for_permissions/Administrator#Sj%C3%B6 - RfP scheduled to end after 17 February 2026 10:02 (UTC) - New requests for permissions/Bot: SEEKCommonsBot https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Requests_for_permissions/Bot/SEEKCommonsBot - Task: Synchronize Wikidata records created by the SEEKCommons https://seekcommons.org/ project with OpenAlex https://openalex.org/ - Closed request for permissions/Bot: - AmeisenBot 3 https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Requests_for_permissions/Bot/AmeisenBot_3 - Task: Adding descriptions (and possibly labels and aliases as well) to items based on their statements. Request closed as approved. - Che-W-bot https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Requests_for_permissions/Bot/Che-W-bot - Request withdrawn.
*Events*
- Upcoming events https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikidata:Events: Next Linked Data for Libraries LD4 Wikidata Affinity Group https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_LD4_Wikidata_Affinity_Group session 17 February, 2026: We have our next LD4 Wikidata Affinity Group Session on Tuesday, February 17 9am PT / 12pm ET / 17:00 UTC / 6pm CET (Time zone converter). Wikiproject P244 maintenance uses SPARQL queries to identify and resolve two types of constraint violations in Wikidata: instances of Wikidata items with more than one LCNAF identifier and instances of the same LCNAF identifier existing on more than one Wikidata item. The February 17th session will walk participants through how to resolve the former issue, while the March 3rd session will focus on the latter. Event page: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_LD4_Wikidata_Affinity_Gro...
*Press, articles, blog posts, videos*
- Blogs: - Wiki for Botanists, why thematic engagement matters https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/02/11/wiki-for-botanists-why-thematic-engagement-matters/: WMNZ/Aotearoa on how sustained outreach with botanists via Wikidata workshops, edit-a-thons, and conferences is improving plant-related knowledge on the Wikimedia projects and building strong collaborative relationships with scientific communities. - Tech News Week 7 / Global Watchlists extension https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/02/09/tech-news-2026-week-07/: now supports multiple Wikibase instance (i.e. Wikidata + Test Wikidata) and fixes right-to-left (RTL) text directionality issues. - The Spark of Linked Data and Libraries: OCLC Passage Project White Paper Translation Report https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/02/13/the-spark-of-linked-data-and-libraries-oclc-passage-project-white-paper-translation-report/ - Papers: Federating Open Knowledge through Wikibase: the case of the Finno-Ugric data sharing space https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400579586_Federating_Open_Knowledge_through_Wikibase_The_Case_of_The_Finno-Ugric_Data_Sharing_Space: Antal et al. (2026) present a community-driven, federated prototype to link multilingual cultural heritage data, open ontologies and preserve local epistemologies. - Videos: - How to Unlock Knowledge Graph Data for LLMs with AI Retrieval https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtoM-0IhKnY - User:Philippe Saade (WMDE) https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:Philippe_Saade_(WMDE), AI/ML Project Manager talks to Chad Jennings of *Beyond the Blueprints* (IBM Product Hub) on making Wikidata more accessible for AI developers, replacing SPARQL-heavy workflows with vector search and hybrid retrieval. - (French) Créer une carte uMap à partir de données géolocalisées extraites de Wikidata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nn7w6Vi3M8 - video presentation of 2026 Digital Encounters *"Mapping territorial data in uMap"* - Africa Wiki Women 2026 On Wiki Skills Mentorship Program - Introduction to Wikidata https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wf6TFcnvGno - Africa Wiki Women 2026 On Wiki Skills Mentorship Program - Major and Minor edits on Wikidata https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PIVVpJh1seA - EMCO Wikidata CoP meeting (2026-01-28) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9TVFPpSNRYI - participants discuss progress on the *early adopter* phase, incl. how to categorise and track contributions, what statistics to measure and progress on MCO application profiles (persons + corporate bodies)
*Tool of the week*
- Queer Memory https://queer-memory.toolforge.org/ multilingual web app that explores *global queer history* through live Wikidata timelines, places, rights, culture, and activism. Currently available in English, French, and Spanish.
*Other Noteworthy Stuff*
- Etherpad cleanup, save your pads now https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org/thread/CMYID3FRNL7OKUNEH3O3OTGT6UQSQN3X/. All pads after 1st March 2026 willbe deleted so if you need any of your pads, please make a local backup. - The Wikibase REST API https://doc.wikimedia.org/Wikibase/master/js/rest-api/ *search* endpoints are now available on *v1* and considered stable! It's important to note that the older v0, which has been live on Wikidata since July 2025, will remain available for a *two month transition period* until mid-April 2026. We encourage all users to migrate to the new v1 endpoints during this time to ensure that their applications can continue to work seamlessly. - The WMF Wikidata Platform team https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikidata_Platform has published its February 2026 newsletter https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Wikidata_Platform_team/Newsletter. It includes result of an initial evaluation of open-source triple store candidates as part of the migration away from Blazegraph, the next Blazegraph migration office hour, and more. To have new issues of the WDP *monthly* newsletter delivered to your user talk page, Subscribe to WDP newsletter! https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Global_message_delivery/Targets/WDP_team_updates
*Newest properties https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:ListProperties and property proposals https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikidata:Property_proposal to review*
- Newest General datatypes: category for music in this language https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14122 (link to category item that contains music in this language) - Newest External identifiers: DOAB book ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14118, qamus.inoor.ir root ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14119, The Session tune ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14120, Parfumo fragrance note ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14121, KaraokeTexty.cz album ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14123, Biographical encyclopedia of Maros County https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14124, Alpine Linux Wiki article https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14125, Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Architects 1800-1950 person ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14126, Igromania author ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14127, French Trade Mark Number https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14128, Bane NOR location code https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14129, CardCow.com publisher ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14130, Lost Pubs Project ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14131, Handball Base ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14132, Handballnews.pl person ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14133, Center for Jewish History person ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14134, African Scientists Directory ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P14135 - New General datatypes property proposals to review: - Number of translations https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Number_of_translations (Number of translations) - Panoramax instance URL https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Panoramax_instance_URL (the Panoramax instance of/about the subject) - New External identifier property proposals to review: Hentaigana for Academic Information Exchange ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Hentaigana_for_Academic_Information_Exchange_ID , Bach digital person ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Bach_digital_person_ID , Bach digital work ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Bach_digital_work_ID , YList ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/YList_ID, identificativo Antenati https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/identificativo_Antenati , Pesistulokset.fi player ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Pesistulokset.fi_player_ID , Liiga.fi player ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Liiga.fi_player_ID , Letterboxd producer ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Letterboxd_producer_ID , Topplista artist ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Topplista_artist_ID , Apple Music Classical work ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Apple_Music_Classical_work_ID , Fragplace brands ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Fragplace_brands_ID , Fragplace fragrances ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Fragplace_fragrances_ID , Fragplace notes ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Fragplace_notes_ID , Fragplace perfumers ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Fragplace_perfumers_ID , Sport Express person ID https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Sport_Express_person_ID , ciss.org sportsperson ID (deaf sport) https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/ciss.org_sportsperson_ID_(deaf_sport)
You can comment on all open property proposals https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Property_proposal/Overview!
*Did you know?*
- Newest WikiProjects https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikidata:WikiProjects : Learned Societies https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_Learned_Societies - WikiProject Highlights: a discussion regarding how to standardise the data model of the membership of learned societies https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata_talk:WikiProject_Learned_Societies#Members_of_learned_societies:_too_many_conflicting_data_models - Showcase Items https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Showcase_items : Super Moscato Show (Q3324704) https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3324704 - French radio program and audio podcast - Showcase Lexemes https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Showcase_lexemes: collection (L3941) https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Lexeme:L3941 - English noun (kəˈlɛkʃən) meaning "a group of gathered items", "money gathered for charity/church", or "the act of acquiring"
*Development*
- Mobile statement editing: - We are putting finishing touches on editing support for external ID, URL, monolingual text, quantities and coordinate statements. - We worked on visually highlighting preferred and deprecated statements on the mobile site similar to how it is done on desktop. - We worked on showing more than one constraint violation when a statement violates multiple constraints. - Ontology Federation: We continued working allowing other Wikibase instances to use Wikidata Items in their statements (and later from other Wikibase instances). You can see a demo video of the current development state at ontology federation demo https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/File:Federation_Demo.webm. - GraphQL: We worked on documentation to get get the GraphQL endpoint ready for a first release. - Wikidata Query Service: The Wikidata Platform team published their report of the evaluation of Blazegraph alternatives. You can read it at File:WDQS Triple Store Evaluation - Benchmark Results Report.pdf https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/File:WDQS_Triple_Store_Evaluation_-_Benchmark_Results_Report.pdf .
You can see all open tickets related to Wikidata here https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/maniphest/query/4RotIcw5oINo/#R. If you want to help, you can also have a look at the tasks needing a volunteer https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/project/board/71/query/zfiRgTnZF7zu/?filter=zfiRgTnZF7zu&order=priority .
*Weekly Tasks*
- Add labels, in your own language(s), for the new properties listed above https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates/Next#Newest_properties_and_property_proposals_to_review . - Contribute to the showcase Item and Lexeme above https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates/Next#Did_you_know? . - Govdirectory weekly focus country: - Summarize your WikiProject's ongoing activities https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates/Next#Did_you_know? in one or two sentences. - Help translate https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:LanguageStats or proofread the interface and documentation pages, in your own language! - Help merge identical items https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:Pasleim/projectmerge across Wikimedia projects. - Help write the next summary! https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates/Next
*· Previous issue https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikidata:Status_updates/Previous · JosefAnthony https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:JosefAnthony talk https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User_talk:JosefAnthony ·*
Idoko Joseph (JosefAnthony)
Wikimedia Volunteer | Open Knowledge Advocate
*View my contributions https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:JosefAnthony/Contributions*