New ICC Arbitration Rules from June 2026: Faster, Clearer, More User-Friendly

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has adopted an updated version of its Arbitration Rules. The new rules came into force on June 1, 2026, and strengthen international arbitration, particularly in the areas of efficiency, clarity, and user-friendliness.

With this reform, the ICC is responding to the growing demands of international commercial disputes and the increasing complexity of cross-border proceedings. The reform encompasses a series of changes to procedural rules aimed at more efficient management of proceedings, greater clarity in organizational matters, and a more comprehensive consideration of current trends in international arbitration practice.

The most significant innovations include, in particular:

• a new Highly Expedited Procedure: an accelerated proceeding for disputes with a lower amount in dispute, enabling companies to resolve disputes faster and at a lower cost;

• simplification of the course of proceedings thanks to the abolition of the traditional Terms of Reference;

• more precise provisions regarding the organization and conduct of proceedings;

• adaptation to current trends in international arbitration practice.

“Particularly in geopolitically and economically challenging times, companies need efficient, neutral, and internationally recognized dispute resolution mechanisms. The new ICC Arbitration Rules make an important contribution to this. The ICC reaffirms once again that it is a reliable and flexible institution whose regulations keep pace with the requirements of global economic practice,” notes Oliver Wieck, Secretary General of ICC Germany.

Current case statistics underscore the importance of ICC arbitration in international business transactions. In 2025, a total of 894 new proceedings were registered, 881 of which were under the ICC Arbitration Rules. At the end of the year, 1,869 proceedings were pending — a new record in the institution’s history. Furthermore, at the end of 2025, the ICC International Court of Arbitration registered its 30,000th case.

ICC arbitration is among the world’s leading mechanisms for resolving international commercial disputes. Parties from all regions of the world have for decades trusted the neutrality, enforceability, and high quality of ICC proceedings.

The new ICC Arbitration Rules can be viewed here.