On 17 April 2026, the Court held a solemn sitting to celebrate its 80th anniversary. A dedicated webpage contains all the materials related to the solemn sitting as well as announcements related to other anniversary activities.
The International Court of Justice, which has its seat in The Hague,
is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Court, Mr J.P.H. Donner, Chairman of the Board of the Carnegie Foundation, donated a stained-glass window curated by Mr Marien Heijboer to the President of the Court, HE Judge Iwasawa. The centrepiece of the window originates from the Reformed Church in the Charlois district of Rotterdam, dating back to 1931. As an artefact from a building that survived the devastation of war, the gift serves as a powerful symbol of resilience.
On 20 July 2026, the Russian Federation, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a Declaration of intervention in the case concerning Alleged Smuggling of Migrants (Lithuania v. Belarus).
On 20 July 2026, the European Union, referring to Article 43, paragraph 2, and Article 69, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a Memorial in the case concerning Alleged Smuggling of Migrants (Lithuania v. Belarus).
On 7 July 2026, a group of parliamentarians from participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, attending the annual OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held in The Hague, visited the Court. The parliamentarians received a guided tour of certain rooms used by the Court at the Peace Palace, its seat.
On 30 June 2026, Poland filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Alleged Smuggling of Migrants (Lithuania v. Belarus).
On 29 June 2026, HE Mr Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, paid a visit to the International Court of Justice at its seat, the Peace Palace in The Hague. HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, and HE Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar, welcomed Mr Frieden and his accompanying delegation led by HE Mr Mike Hentges, Ambassador of Luxembourg to the Netherlands.
On 26 June 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo filed an Application instituting proceedings against Rwanda before the Court with regard to a dispute concerning “abuses attributable to Rwanda over a period extending from 1996 to the present day”.
On 18 June 2026, His Majesty Emperor Naruhito of Japan paid a visit to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace in The Hague, seat of both organizations. Emperor Naruhito and his delegation were welcomed on behalf of the ICJ by HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, and HE Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar, and, on behalf of the PCA, by HE Mr Marcin Czepelak, Secretary-General, and Mr Martin Doe and Mr Garth Schofield, Deputy Secretaries-General.
By an Order dated 21 May 2026, the Court directed the submission of a Reply by South Africa and a Rejoinder by Israel in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). It fixed 22 November 2027 and 22 May 2029 as the respective time-limits for the filing of these written pleadings.
By an Order dated 21 May 2026, the Court directed the submission of a Reply by the Applicant and a Rejoinder by the Respondents in the case concerning Appeal relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Islamic Republic of Iran v. Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom). It fixed 21 September 2026 and 21 January 2027 as the respective time-limits for the filing of these written pleadings.
On 21 May 2026, the Court gave its Advisory Opinion on the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87 and responded to the question posed by the International Labour Organization.
On 15 May 2026, the President of the Court, HE Judge Iwasawa Yuji, addressed the International Law Commission at its 77th session.
It is with great sadness that the Court announces the passing of Kenneth Keith on 13 May 2026 in New Zealand. Sir Kenneth was a Member of the Court from 2006 to 2015 and, more recently, sat as Judge ad hoc in two cases.
On Thursday 21 May 2026, the Court will deliver its Advisory Opinion on the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87. A public sitting will take place at 3 p.m. during which Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, will read out the Advisory Opinion.
The public hearings on the merits of the case concerning Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela), which opened on 4 May 2026, concluded on 11 May 2026. The Court will now begin its deliberation. Its decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course.
At a private meeting held on 7 May 2026, the Court elected Mr Santiago Villalpando, of Argentine nationality, to the post of Registrar for a term of seven years. He will succeed Mr Philippe Gautier, whose term will come to an end on 31 July 2026.
The Court will hold public hearings in the case concerning Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) from Monday 4 to Monday 11 May 2026.
By an Order dated 16 April 2026 in the case concerning Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v. Honduras; Guatemala intervening), the Court extended to 19 June 2026 and 21 September 2026 the respective time-limits for the submission by Guatemala of a written statement, and for the submission of any written observations on that statement by the Parties.
On 17 April 2026, in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, HE Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, HE Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, HE Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and HE Mr Jamal Alrowaiei, President of the United Nations Security Council, the Court held a solemn sitting to mark the eightieth anniversary of its inaugural session.
The Registry produced a video on the occasion of the Court's 80th anniversary, which provides an overview of its history, role and types of cases that may be brought before it.
The International Court of Justice will hold a solemn sitting on Friday 17 April 2026 at 3 p.m. in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of its inaugural session.
