The first edition of India International Disputes Week (IIDW) 2026, scheduled to be held from 7–11 March 2026 in Chandigarh, will witness the visit of the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, who will inaugurate the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) during the opening ceremony of the event.
Organised as a five-day national and international forum dedicated to dispute resolution, IIDW 2026 will bring together judges, senior advocates, global practitioners, policymakers, institutions, and young lawyers to deliberate on the evolving landscape of litigation, arbitration, and mediation in India and abroad.
The inaugural ceremony, scheduled on 7 March 2026, will be attended by distinguished members of the Bench and Bar, including the Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu, and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, among others.
A key highlight of the occasion will be the formal launch of the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) under the aegis of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, envisioned as a modern institutional platform for domestic and international arbitration. The Centre aims to provide structured case management, transparent administrative procedures, emergency arbitration mechanisms, and digital dispute resolution facilities to support efficient adjudication of commercial disputes.
In a message marking the occasion, the Chief Justice of India emphasised the importance of institutional initiatives that strengthen dispute resolution frameworks.
“The true strength of a justice system lies not only in adjudication, but in its ability to facilitate fair, timely, and effective resolution of disputes. Initiatives such as India International Disputes Week encourage dialogue, capacity-building, and institutional strengthening — all essential to deepening the rule of law.”
The establishment of CIAC coincides with the Platinum Jubilee year (2025–2026) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, underscoring the institution’s continued commitment to strengthening India’s dispute resolution ecosystem and promoting arbitration and mediation as credible alternatives to traditional litigation.
IIDW 2026 will feature a series of high-level discussions, panels, and workshops addressing diverse aspects of dispute resolution, including cross-border disputes, constitutional litigation, commercial arbitration, enforcement of awards, and emerging challenges in global legal practice.
By bringing together national and international legal leaders, the event aims to reinforce India’s position as a dependable seat for arbitration and mediation and a modern hub for sophisticated dispute resolution.
The launch of CIAC during the inaugural edition of IIDW marks an important institutional milestone for North India, positioning Chandigarh as an emerging centre for arbitration, mediation, and cross-border dispute resolution.