Paris Arbitration Week 2026 unveils new visual identity as participation reaches record heights

Over the past decade, PAW has evolved from a bold idea into a global reference point on the international arbitration calendar. The 2026 edition is set to be its most ambitious yet, with organizers reporting continual year-on-year increases in attendance and a growing international footprint. This momentum provided the perfect backdrop for the unveiling of PAW’s refreshed graphic identity—one that encapsulates both its institutional maturity and its mission for the years ahead.

At the heart of this new identity is a logo inspired by the underside of the Eiffel Tower, a perspective that reveals the extraordinary structural geometry often overlooked by the millions who admire the monument from afar. The design echoes the idea that true strength comes from interconnectedness, much like the global arbitration community that PAW brings together each year.

The new visual concept is built around symbolic architectural elements:

• Four outer corners, representing PAW’s foundational pillars: Learning, Sharing, Celebrating, and Together.

• Four inner angles, symbolizing its guiding principles: Rule of Law, Innovation, Diversity, and Sustainability.

• A central square, reflecting PAW’s core mission: Connecting the world of arbitration.

Beyond its aesthetic purpose, the rebranding signals PAW’s transition from a fast-growing initiative into an established institution shaping the evolution of international dispute resolution. Organizers emphasized that this new chapter aims to consolidate PAW’s role as a platform for thought leadership, community-building, and cross-border dialogue.

The PAW Board — led by Diamana Diawara, Alexandra van der Meulen, Vanessa Thieffry, Catherine Schroeder-Paillard, Astrid Westphalen, Anastasia Davis Bondarenko, Niels Aujouannet-Kelner, Alexandre Vagenheim, Amany Chamieh, Athina Fouchard Papaefstratiou, Marion Gady, and Karen Laik — also paid tribute to past Board members whose contributions helped shape the organization’s trajectory.

As PAW prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the message is clear: the arbitration world has made PAW its home, and the decade ahead promises even greater ambition.

With a growing audience, renewed vision, and strengthened identity, PAW 2026 stands poised to reaffirm Paris’s place at the center of global arbitration.

Sophie Stevenard