Paris, March 13, 2026
Paris Arbitration Week (PAW) is proud to announce its 10th edition, taking place from March 23 to 27, 2026, in Paris. This anniversary edition celebrates ten years of connecting practitioners, academics, and institutions from across the globe. Alongside its founding institutions, the ICC, AFA (Association Française d’Arbitrage), Paris Place d’Arbitrage, and CFA (Centre Français d’Arbitrage), PAW will kick off this 10th edition on 23 March 2026 followed by the ICC Europe Conference, confirming PAW’s central role in the global arbitration architecture.
High Patronage of the French Ministry of Justice and Institutional partnership the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For the third consecutive year, PAW has been granted the high patronage of the French Ministry of Justice. This 10th edition also benefits from the strategic support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose engagement reflects the international dimension of PAW’s mission and France’s commitment to promoting arbitration as a tool for peaceful dispute resolution on the global stage. This dual institutional recognition affirms PAW’s standing as a pillar of the international arbitration ecosystem and its alignment with France’s commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, and the development of arbitration worldwide.
A decade of growth
From a pioneering idea to a global institution, PAW’s trajectory over ten years speaks for itself:
- 288 partners, including law firms, arbitral institutions, universities, experts, and third-party funders
- 267 events spanning commercial and investment arbitration, sustainability, technology, and diversity
- Over 40 000 registration requests
Key Themes of the 2026 Edition
- Artificial intelligence and the transformation of dispute resolution
- Energy, natural resources, and climate-related disputes
- Investment arbitration and national sovereignty
- Sustainability and the rule of law
- Diversity and inclusion
- Innovation in arbitral procedure and emerging jurisdictions
Diversity at the forefront: the opening kick-off
Diversity has been at the very heart of PAW since its founding. The 10th edition opens with a kick-off session hosted by Yasmin Mohammad, dedicated entirely to diversity and inclusion in international arbitration, both as a tribute to the progress made over the past decade and as a commitment to the work still ahead. Yasmin Mohammad brings a powerful personal and professional perspective to this conversation, setting the tone for a week that places inclusion at its core. PAW’s approach is holistic: gender balance, cultural pluralism, generational exchange, and equitable access for practitioners from underrepresented regions. This is not a checkbox. It is a founding pillar.
The PAW Fellowship: widening access to international arbitration
Launched in November 2025, the PAW Fellowship supports emerging practitioners from Asia and Africa through a three-stage pathway:
- Before PAW: introductory webinars led by PAW Board members and sponsor firms
- During PAW: full participation in the week, with access to all PAW Board official events
- After PAW: Mentoring sessions, networking and team-building activities offered by PAW Fellowship sponsor firms
Each PAW Fellow receives a €3,000 grant in funding to cover travel and accommodation. The programme targets legal professionals with at least three years of experience in dispute resolution. Supported by PAW board itself and 7 sponsor firms (Wordstone, Laborde Law, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Reed Smith, Jus Mundi and Freshfields) the laureates are coming from 7 different countries.
Diamana Diawara and Catherine Schroeder, Co-Presidents of the PAW Board: “At its creation, PAW was a bold ambition. Today, it is a global institution that brings together thousands of practitioners, academics, and institutions to advance peaceful international dispute resolution. This 10th edition is both a celebration of the road travelled and a commitment to the decade ahead, one defined by greater access, deeper diversity, relentless advocacy for the rule of law and continued excellence in arbitration and ADR.”
About Paris Arbitration Week
Paris Arbitration Week is an annual event that has established itself as a leading milestone for international arbitration practitioners worldwide. Over the course of one week in Paris, a major hub for international arbitration, PAW brings together professionals from around the globe to discuss key issues in investment and commercial arbitration. With four foundational pillars – Learning, Sharing, Celebrating, Together – and four core values – rule of law, diversity and inclusion, innovation, sustainability – PAW’s mission is to connect the world of arbitration.
Press contact: Amélie Lerosier – +33 6 63 58 34 62 – amelie@matchpoint.fr