The Registry of the Court published revised versions of the Note for States concerning contentious cases and the Note on the procedure followed in advisory proceedings.

The term of office of the current Deputy-Registrar of the Court will expire on 31 March 2027. The Court invites qualified candidates to submit applications in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 23 of the Rules of Court and in the vacancy announcement of the post.

On 18 September 2026, Colombia informed the Court that it had decided to withdraw the Declaration of intervention that it had filed under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court on 5 April 2024 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).

The public hearings on the preliminary objections raised by Germany in the case concerning Alleged Breaches of Certain International Obligations in respect of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Nicaragua v. Germany), which opened on 7 September 2026, concluded on 10 September 2026. The Court’s decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course.

By an Order dated 3 September 2026, the President of the Court extended to 21 October 2026 and to 22 March 2027 the respective time-limits for the filing of the Reply of the Applicant and the Rejoinder of 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). 

On 31 August 2026, Vanuatu filed an application before the Court relating to a dispute between itself and France “concerning Vanuatu’s sovereignty over Umaenupne (Matthew) and Umaeneg/Leka (Hunter) Islands … and concerning the establishment of a single maritime boundary between the exclusive economic zones and continental shelf of Vanuatu and France (with respect to New Caledonia)”, invoking Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court.

By an Order dated 14 August 2026, the President of the Court extended to 9 December 2026 and 9 December 2027 the respective time-limits for the filing of the Reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Rejoinder of Canada in the case concerning Alleged Violations of State Immunities (Islamic Republic of Iran v. Canada). 

By an Order dated 4 August 2026, the President of the Court fixed 4 October 2027 and 4 December 2028 as the respective time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Counter-Memorial of Rwanda in the case concerning Alleged Violations of Human Rights by Rwanda on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda). 

The Court will hold public hearings on the preliminary objections raised by Germany in the case concerning Alleged Breaches of Certain International Obligations in respect of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Nicaragua v. Germany) from Monday 7 to Thursday 10 September 2026.

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.

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.

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.