1 June 2026
As of 1 June 2026, the 2026 ICC Arbitration Rules entered into force. Prepared by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the new rules draw on experience gained from administering over 30,000 cases and on extensive consultations with the global business community and dispute resolution practitioners.
The updates are structured around three principal areas: the digitalisation of written communications, a restructuring of time limits for awards, and the clarification of confidentiality obligations.
Digital Default for Written Communications
Article 3 of the 2026 Rules adopts electronic communication as the default method for all written exchanges in ICC-administered cases. Requests for arbitration, answers and requests for joinder are to be submitted electronically to the Secretariat.
This change is implemented through ICC Case Connect, the ICC’s digital case management platform. Paper copies will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances where electronic transmission is not possible. The aim is to create a faster and more efficient process for parties, arbitral tribunals and the Secretariat alike.
Time Limits for Awards Aligned with the Procedural Timetable
The six-month time limit for awards set out in the 2021 Rules, which proved almost impossible to meet in practice, has been replaced in the 2026 Rules with a more flexible model. Under the new framework, the ICC President will set the time limit for each award in accordance with the procedural timetable of the individual case, or may extend it upon a reasoned request from the arbitral tribunal.
According to ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics for 2025, the amounts in dispute in ICC cases range from USD 2,500 to USD 31 billion. Managing such a wide spectrum of cases under a single fixed deadline is not feasible. The new model preserves predictability while taking account of each case’s particular circumstances. Specific time limits under the Expedited Procedure and Highly Expedited Procedure remain unchanged.
Explicit Confidentiality Obligation for Arbitrators
Article 12(8) of the 2026 Rules introduces, for the first time, an explicit confidentiality obligation for arbitral tribunals. Arbitrators and co-arbitrators are now expressly required to keep all matters relating to the arbitration confidential. Exceptions apply only where the information is publicly available, where the parties agree otherwise, where disclosure is required by law, or where it is necessary to protect a legal right.
The position of the parties is governed by a different model. The new rules do not impose a general confidentiality obligation on parties. This reflects the recognition that absolute confidentiality may not always be appropriate in disputes involving states, public bodies or matters of public interest. Parties remain free to agree on their own confidentiality arrangements tailored to the specific circumstances of their dispute.
Significance for the ADR Ecosystem
The 2026 ICC Arbitration Rules represent a practical update addressing real challenges encountered in international dispute resolution. Digitalisation, flexibility and transparency are the three principal axes of this reform.
For Turkey, these developments carry particular significance. The number of Turkish parties in international arbitration proceedings is growing, ISTAC is strengthening its position on the international stage, and the Ministry of Justice has enhanced its institutional capacity in this field through the newly established Arbitration Department. The updates to the ICC Rules align with Turkey’s objective of becoming a regional arbitration centre.
Sources
ICC. (2026). Unveiling the 2026 ICC Arbitration Rules, Part 6: Written communications, time limits for awards and confidentiality. iccwbo.org.
ICC. (2026). 2026 ICC Arbitration Rules. iccwbo.org.
ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics 2025. iccwbo.org.
