It is with great pleasure that we present the 20th anniversary edition of the Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration. 2026 marks a special milestone: since the first publication in 2007 this Yearbook has become a trusted resource for arbitration practitioners, scholars, and students and established itself as a respected platform for discussing developments, challenges, and innovations in international arbitration. Over the past 20 years the Yearbook has steadily evolved into a work of broader relevance, shaped by the growing interconnectedness of the legal, political, and economic spheres in which Austria participates.

Authored by an exceptional group of experienced practitioners, this anniversary edition covers a wide range of highly relevant topics in the international landscape of arbitration. The valuable contributions, addressing global discussions and emerging challenges in arbitral practice, seek to assist readers in addressing and resolving issues in their daily work.

With the role of arbitration in resolving complex international disputes efficiently and fairly, it is of importance for arbitration itself to evolve with and adapt to the constant changes and shifts in the global landscape. This 20th edition’s goal seeks to reflect on these transformations and provide a comprehensive selection of central developments and trends in arbitration worldwide.

We are especially pleased that this anniversary edition covers 39 contributions from authors around the globe giving most relevant insights in international developments and challenges. Among others the Yearbook contains forward looking keynote speeches by Cavinder Bull SC, Professor Stavros Brekoulakis and Roland Ziade, articles addressing efficiency, diversity, technology and AI, procedural issues, enforcements and ISDS. Furthermore, the Yearbook covers specific regional developments, including those in Austria, the Balkans, China, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom.

We sincerely thank all authors, contributors, and supporters whose efforts made this anniversary edition possible. Your expertise and commitment continue to advance the discussion on international arbitration.

On the occasion of the 2026 anniversary edition, we are proud to also present an overview of all, over 300 authors, who have contributed to the Yearbook in the past 20 years. In this regard, we are particularly thankful for the broad network developed in the past twenty years, facilitating the exchange of valuable perspectives between arbitration practitioners worldwide through their valuable contributions to the Yearbooks.

It is our hope that this edition will serve as a valuable resource for academics, practitioners, and all readers interested in understanding the dynamics shaping the world of arbitration now and in the years ahead.