Is Your Wix Website Ready for the EU EAA Deadline of 2026? 3 Quick Tests to Find Out

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline of June 2026 is looming, and if you're running a Wix website targeting European audiences, it's time to seriously assess your compliance. Ignoring this isn't an option; non-compliance can result in significant fines and legal repercussions. Many Wix users assume the platform handles accessibility, but that's a misconception. While Wix provides some built-in accessibility features, achieving full EAA compliance requires proactive effort and understanding. This article will guide you through three crucial tests you can perform directly within your Wix admin panel to gauge your website's EAA readiness, specifically tailored for Wix users.

Understanding the EU EAA and Why It Matters for Wix Users

The EAA aims to harmonize accessibility requirements across EU member states. It applies to websites, mobile apps, and electronic content providers. For Wix users, this means that if your website serves users in any EU country, you must comply. The law’s scope extends beyond just government websites; it covers a wide range of public and private sector entities.

The core of the EAA is alignment with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) – specifically, WCAG 2.2 Level AA. This is the gold standard for digital accessibility, outlining specific success criteria for making web content usable by people with disabilities. Failing to meet these criteria can lead to fines of up to 2% of annual worldwide turnover, a significant financial hit for businesses of all sizes. The deadline is fast approaching, and the enforcement will be strict.

Test 1: The Wix Accessibility Insights Panel – A First Look

Wix has integrated an "Accessibility Insights" panel directly into the Wix Editor. This is your starting point. It’s a basic, automated scan, but it flags common issues.

How to Access and Interpret the Insights Panel

Open your Wix Editor: Log into your Wix account and open the website you want to assess.
Navigate to the Accessibility Insights Panel: Go to "Accessibility" in the left-hand menu. You'll see a summary report, color-coded by severity (Critical, Serious, Moderate, Minor).
Review the Findings: The panel will identify issues like missing alternative text for images, insufficient color contrast, missing form labels, and keyboard navigation problems. It provides a brief explanation for each issue and a link to Wix Help articles for guidance.

Wix-Specific Considerations:

Wix Corvid (formerly Wix Dev Kit): If you've heavily customized your site using Wix Corvid, the Accessibility Insights panel might miss some issues. Corvid code requires more in-depth manual testing.
Wix Apps: Third-party Wix apps can introduce accessibility barriers. Check the app's documentation for accessibility information, and test thoroughly. Many developers are now building accessible apps, but it's your responsibility to ensure they don’t break your site’s accessibility.
Wix Velo (formerly Wix Studio): Similar to Corvid, Velo customizations require careful scrutiny. The insights panel provides a baseline, but deeper analysis is crucial.

Limitations: The Wix Accessibility Insights panel is a good starting point, but it’s not a comprehensive accessibility audit. It catches many common errors, but misses more complex issues that require human judgment and specialized tools.

Test 2: Keyboard Navigation – A Critical User Experience Check

Keyboard navigation is a cornerstone of accessibility. Users who rely on screen readers or have motor impairments often navigate websites using only the keyboard. A poorly designed keyboard navigation experience is a major accessibility barrier.

Performing the Keyboard Navigation Test

Disconnect your mouse: This is the most crucial step. You must navigate your entire website using only the Tab key, Shift+Tab, and the arrow keys.
Follow the Tab Order: Observe the order in which elements receive focus. It should be logical and intuitive. Focus indicators (usually a visible outline) should be clear and consistent.
Test All Interactive Elements: Try to activate all buttons, links, form fields, and any custom elements you’ve added. Ensure they are reachable and operable via the keyboard.
Check Skip Links: Many websites have "skip to content" links to bypass repetitive navigation. Verify this link exists and functions correctly.

Common Wix-Related Keyboard Navigation Issues:

Wix Menus: Wix menus can sometimes have unpredictable tab order. Carefully test the tab order within your menus and ensure all menu items are accessible.
Wix Forms: Ensure all form fields have clear labels and that the tab order is logical. Wix's form builder often requires manual adjustments to the tab order.
Custom Corvid/Velo Elements: If you've built custom components with Corvid or Velo, you must ensure they are keyboard accessible. This requires careful coding to manage focus and event handling. Often, developers miss the tabindex attribute which dictates the order elements receive focus.

Real-World Example: We recently worked with a Wix-based e-commerce store that had a complex custom checkout process built with Corvid. During keyboard navigation testing, we discovered that users couldn't reach crucial elements like the "Place Order" button. This was due to a misconfigured tab order within the Corvid code. Fixing this required significant code refactoring and a thorough review of the entire checkout flow.

Test 3: Color Contrast – A Visual Accessibility Check

Insufficient color contrast between text and background is a common accessibility barrier for users with low vision or color blindness. WCAG 2.2 requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

How to Check Color Contrast in Wix

Use a Color Contrast Checker: There are numerous free online color contrast checkers (e.g., WebAIM Contrast Checker).
Sample Text and Backgrounds: Select representative text and background color combinations from your website.
Analyze the Results: The checker will provide a contrast ratio and indicate whether it meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA requirements.
Wix's Color Palette: While Wix provides a color palette, it doesn't guarantee sufficient contrast. Always verify.

Wix-Specific Challenges:

Custom Color Schemes: If you've created custom color schemes, you must meticulously check the contrast ratios.
Image Text: Text embedded within images often has poor contrast. Avoid relying on images for important text. If you must use image text, ensure it has sufficient contrast or provide a text equivalent.
Wix Themes: Some Wix themes may have inherent color contrast issues. Consider customizing the theme or choosing a more accessible one.

Key Takeaways: Your Wix EAA Compliance Quick Summary

The Wix Accessibility Insights panel is a starting point, not a solution.
Keyboard navigation testing is crucial; disconnect your mouse and navigate your entire site.
Always check color contrast ratios; don’t rely on Wix’s default color palette.
Corvid/Velo customizations require rigorous accessibility testing.
Third-party Wix apps can introduce accessibility barriers – verify their compliance.
The EAA deadline is 2026. Proactive testing and remediation are essential.

Next Steps: Beyond the Quick Tests

These three tests provide a basic assessment of your Wix website's EAA readiness. However, a full accessibility audit is highly recommended. Consider the following:

Automated Accessibility Scanners: Utilize more comprehensive automated tools beyond the Wix Insights Panel.
Manual Accessibility Audit: Engage an accessibility expert to perform a manual audit, focusing on usability and complex interactions.
User Testing: Involve users with disabilities in your testing process.
Implement Accessio.ai: Consider using AI-powered accessibility solutions like Accessio.ai to identify and fix issues at the code level, providing more precise and actionable results than overlay widgets. Accessio.ai focuses on fixing issues at the source, making your website truly accessible from the ground up.
Ongoing Monitoring: Accessibility is not a one-time fix. Implement ongoing monitoring and testing to ensure continued compliance.

This proactive approach will not only help you meet the EAA requirements but also create a more inclusive and user-friendly website for all visitors. Don't wait until 2026 – start your accessibility journey today.