Australia's Bond University has won the 13th International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition following a week of intense advocacy and legal argument before international criminal law experts. The annual competition, hosted in The Hague, is organised by the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University in partnership with the IBA.
This year, the National Law School of India University was runner-up and Singapore Management University secured third place. The Best Speaker Award was presented to Ayesha Khan of National Law School of India University.
IBA President Claudio Visco remarked: 'On behalf of the IBA, I warmly congratulate Bond University on winning the 2026 IBA International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition. This achievement reflects not only exceptional legal knowledge and advocacy skills, but also the dedication, teamwork and professionalism required to succeed at the highest level of international legal education. Most importantly, I commend every student who participated in this year's competition.
At a time when the international legal order faces significant challenges, initiatives such as this competition play a vital role in fostering critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding and a commitment to the rule of law. Through their participation, these students have engaged with some of the most complex issues in international criminal justice while building professional relationships that transcend borders.
The IBA is proud to partner with the ICC and the Grotius Centre in supporting a competition that develops advocacy and legal skills as well as inspires future leaders who will contribute to the pursuit of justice around the world. The dedication and excellence displayed by all participants this year gives us great confidence in the future of the legal profession.'
Bringing together more than 550 students from 94 teams representing 48 countries, the 2026 competition reaffirmed its position as the world's largest English-language simulation of ICC proceedings. Participants assumed the roles of prosecution, defence and victims' counsel, presenting written and oral arguments on complex issues of international criminal law.
Over the course of the Moot Court week, participating teams took part in several oral rounds after progressing through a rigorous written memorial phase evaluated by legal experts from around the world. The final round took place in the ICC courtroom with an ICC judge and legal officers.
Recognising excellence
On 18 June, the Competition's awards ceremony celebrated the exceptional advocacy, legal analysis and professionalism demonstrated by participants throughout the competition. In addition to the overall competition awards, students and teams were recognised with IBA awards for outstanding achievements across a range of categories, including:
- Best Speaker of the Preliminary Rounds: Klara Tebbe, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
- Best Overall Memorial: Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- Spirit of the Competition Award: Crescent University, Abeokuta
- Best Newcomer Team: Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- First Runner-up of the IBA Award for Best Newcomer Team: Universidad de Buenos Aires - Facultad de Derecho, Buenos Aires
- Second Runner-up of the IBA Award for Best Newcomer Team: Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan
- Third Runner-up of the IBA Award for Best Newcomer Team: Haigazian University, Beirut
A truly global learning experience
The Competition attracted students from regions all around the world. More than 400 legal professionals served as judges and evaluators, providing participants with direct engagement with leading practitioners and experts in international law.
Five IBA scholarships enabled teams from the French University in Armenia, the São Paulo Law School of Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil, Strathmore University in Kenya, the Bahria University Islamabad Campus in Pakistan and the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines to participate, further strengthening the Competition's commitment to global inclusion and access.
The 2026 case, The Prosecutor v Droganna Syrax, Situation in the State of Essuss, challenged students to address contemporary issues including individual criminal responsibility for war crimes, head-of-state immunity and the legal consequences of unlawful arrest.
Opening the Competition
On 12 June, the Competition opened with a ceremony featuring remarks from Diana Eggleston, the Special Envoy City of Peace and Justice for The Hague Municipality; Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice at Leiden University and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Organizing Committee; and Professor Michael P Scharf, Associate Dean for Global Legal Studies at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Board of Advisors.
Delivering the keynote address, ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler encouraged participants to meet contemporary challenges with determination and conviction, emphasising the important role the next generation of lawyers will play in advancing international justice and the rule of law. He said: 'We must all seek to meet the unprecedented challenges before us with unrelenting energy and conviction. Your aspirations and careers matter, and as the future of international law, you too are called to stand firm.'
Academic and professional engagement
Alongside the competition rounds, participants attended academic and networking events exploring current developments in international criminal justice.
A key highlight was the IBA-hosted panel discussion, ' Ensuring Accountability for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine ', which brought together leading international experts to discuss progress toward the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and broader efforts to strengthen accountability under international law.
Participants also attended a side event on 'International Criminal Justice and AI: Hype, Game-changer or New Normal?' and took part in networking and social activities designed to foster international collaboration and professional connections among future legal practitioners.
As the 2026 edition concluded, the Organizing Committee had already begun preparations for the 2027 competition, continuing its mission to develop future leaders in international law through practical engagement with the most pressing legal issues of our time.
