Samantha Barry Steps Down as Glamour Editor-in-Chief Amid Condé Nast Restructuring

Samantha Barry announced her departure as editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine on April 16, 2026, marking the end of her eight-year tenure at the publication. Her exit coincided with a major restructuring at Condé Nast, which included the closure of Self magazine and the shutdown of Glamour‘s international editions in Germany, Mexico, and Spain.

Barry, a native of Cork, Ireland, first joined Glamour in 2018 after a career in broadcast journalism, including roles at the BBC, CNN, and RTÉ. She made history as the first person to lead a Condé Nast magazine without prior print media experience. Under her leadership, the U.S. Edition of Glamour transitioned to a digital-first model, with the January 2019 issue being the last monthly print edition.

In October 2024, Barry was promoted to Global Editorial Director of Glamour, overseeing the magazine’s international operations. Her departure announcement came via Instagram, where she stated that the decision had been building for some time and was aligned with evolving global operations at Condé Nast.

The same day, Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch issued a memo confirming the cessation of Self magazine after 47 years of publication, citing shifting audience behaviors and the lack of a viable path forward for the health and wellness title in its current digital form. Lynch noted that Self‘s content would be absorbed into Allure and Glamour.

Barry’s exit reflects broader challenges in the digital publishing landscape, as Condé Nast pivots toward its highest-revenue titles amid evolving audience habits and economic pressures. Her leadership at Glamour was marked by efforts to diversify the brand’s audience and revenue streams while embracing digital innovation.