ICC arbitration · Governing Rules and actual communication country
When must an ICC expedited tribunal hold its initial CMC?
The 2026 expedited tribunal must hold its initial CMC no later than 15 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend the period. The earlier 2017 and 2021 provisions used the date of file transmission and Court extension authority, so edition and event must both be checked.
- Period
- 15 calendar days under the established ordinary branch.
- Trigger
- Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules
- Rule
- ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)
The 2026 Rules apply from commencement on or after June 1, 2026 unless an earlier edition was agreed. The expedited CMC starts the six-month final-award period. An invitation, file transmission or tribunal appointment does not prove the CMC occurred.
Free calculator · No account needed
Calculate your deadline
Loading calculator…
What lawyers say
5.0“The platform is really easy to use.”
Michael B.Employment litigation attorney · California
“The Evidence Record saved us time with our insurance on bankruptcy matters.”
MariaBankruptcy and commercial attorney · London, UK
“The most up-to-date service we could find.”
Li ChenArbitration practitioner · Singapore
When must an ICC expedited tribunal hold its initial CMC?
The 2026 expedited tribunal must hold its initial CMC no later than 15 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend the period. The earlier 2017 and 2021 provisions used the date of file transmission and Court extension authority, so edition and event must both be checked.
Responsible actor. The tribunal in an applicable expedited arbitration.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules
Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks.
The expedited CMC starts the six-month final-award period. An invitation, file transmission or tribunal appointment does not prove the CMC occurred.
Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)How does this provision count time?
- Identify actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules.
- Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks.
- Hold the initial conference under Article 24. Retain actual file receipt, the CMC record and any Secretary General extension.
- Retain the actual communication and the established relevant country calendar before recording the expiry.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules. For this 15-day period, establish the legally effective event before applying the time-limit rules. Article 4(1) excludes the event day, starts on the next business day if necessary, includes intermediate nonbusiness days and carries a closed final day to the next business day.
Hold the initial conference under Article 24. Retain actual file receipt, the CMC record and any Secretary General extension. The calculation calendar is metropolitan France excluding Alsace-Moselle, with retained official 2026 holidays and Saturday/Sunday closures. Establish the country where the relevant communication is deemed made. The arbitral seat is insufficient; a different country, local calendar, disputed event or out-of-coverage result is outside this calculation.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The tribunal in an applicable expedited arbitration. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules is established on October 06, 2026. Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | The tribunal in an applicable expedited arbitration. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules is established on October 06, 2026. Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Count 15 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Wednesday, October 21, 2026. That final day is open under the retained applicable calendar. | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | The tribunal in an applicable expedited arbitration. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules is established on October 09, 2026. Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Monday, October 12, 2026. Count 15 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Monday, October 26, 2026. That final day is open under the retained applicable calendar. | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The tribunal in an applicable expedited arbitration. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat under the 2026 Rules is established on October 27, 2026. Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Count 15 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Article 4(1) carries that closed final day to Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Thursday, November 12, 2026 |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Established ordinary branch
- Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks.
- Completion requirement
- Hold the initial conference under Article 24. Retain actual file receipt, the CMC record and any Secretary General extension.
- Confirm expedited applicability under Appendix V Article 1 and the actual current track. HEAP and the standard procedure have different CMC clocks.
- The expedited CMC starts the six-month final-award period. An invitation, file transmission or tribunal appointment does not prove the CMC occurred.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must an ICC expedited tribunal hold its initial CMC?
Does the 2026 rule use receipt or transmission?
Appendix V Article 3(1) uses the tribunal receiving the file from the Secretariat.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)Who extends the 2026 expedited CMC period?
The Secretary General may extend it on a reasoned request or on the Secretary General’s own initiative.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)What did the 2021 rule use?
Appendix VI Article 3(3) referred to the date the file was transmitted and gave extension power to the Court.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2021, Appendix VI Article 3(3)Can the same case later leave the expedited track?
Appendix V Article 1(6) permits the Court to decide that expedited provisions no longer apply after consultation.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 1(6)Does a three-arbitrator clause settle expedited applicability?
No. Appendix V governs applicability and permits a sole appointment notwithstanding contrary terms where the procedure applies.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1)Which later period depends on the actual CMC?
Appendix V Article 4 runs the expedited final-award period from the initial CMC date.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 4Official sources and review
Provisions used (5)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 3(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Articles 1(2), 3(5) and 4 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2021, Appendix VI Article 3(3) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 1(6) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Appendix V Article 4 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |