The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to conduct public hearings regarding the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) from Monday, May 4 to Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, where the Court is located. These hearings will focus on the substantive aspects of the case.
It is worth noting that on March 29, 2018, Guyana initiated proceedings against Venezuela regarding the legal validity and authoritative effect of the Award related to the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela, dated October 3, 1899. Guyana has brought this case before the ICJ to validate the internationally recognized boundary established by the Award and a subsequent boundary agreement with Venezuela from 1905, which complied fully with the unanimous decision of the Arbitral Tribunal.
The ICJ has confirmed its jurisdiction in this case twice, with Judgments issued on December 18, 2020, and April 6, 2023. The Court has also issued two Orders providing provisional measures requested by Guyana to ensure that Venezuela does not disrupt Guyana’s rightful control and administration of the disputed territory while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
Guyana enters these Hearings with confidence in the robustness of its case, which is bolstered by historical evidence and relevant legal principles concerning the binding nature of arbitral awards, the integrity of treaties, the rule of law, and the stability of borders.
The hearing schedule is as follows:
- Monday, May 4, 2026
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: First round of oral arguments (Guyana)
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.: First round of oral arguments (Guyana) - Wednesday, May 6, 2026
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: First round of oral arguments (Venezuela)
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.: First round of oral arguments (Venezuela) - Friday, May 8, 2026
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Second round of oral arguments (Guyana) - Monday, May 11, 2026
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Second round of oral arguments (Venezuela)
The proceedings will be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing (VOD) in English and French on the Court’s official website, the relevant section of the United Nations Journal dedicated to the ICJ, and UN Web TV.