The Miami International Arbitration Society Opens the 2026 Writing Competition

The Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 MIAS Writing Competition, the third edition of its annual competition recognizing outstanding scholarship by new and emerging professionals in international arbitration. Entries are now being accepted, with a submission deadline of September 15, 2026. The winners will be recognized on December 2, 2026, during the LatAm Investor-State Arbitration Conference (LISA), the flagship event of Miami Arbitration Week 2026.

About the Competition

The MIAS Writing Competition was established to foster intellectual exploration of current and cutting-edge topics in international arbitration and to provide a platform for emerging voices in the field. The competition invites original articles on issues of international commercial or investment arbitration, with or without a specific geographical focus. It is open to professionals who are starting their careers in international arbitration or transitioning into the field, with no more than seven years of relevant practice at the time of entry.

Awards

The 2026 edition offers an enhanced prize package:

• First Place: USD $1,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration to the 2026 LatAm Investor-State Arbitration Conference, where the award will be presented, and publication of the winning entry in the World Arbitration and Mediation Review (WAMR).

• Honorable Mentions: Certificate of recognition, discounted registration to the 2026 LISA Conference, and publication in WAMR.

Publication in WAMR is a mandatory and non-severable component of every award. By submitting an entry, participants acknowledge that acceptance of any award constitutes a binding commitment to complete publication on the schedule established by the WAMR editors.

What’s New in 2026

Building on the inaugural 2024 edition and the 2025 edition, the 2026 competition introduces the following updates:

• #LISA2026 Conference Recognition. Awards will be presented during the LatAm Investor-State Arbitration Conference, the flagship event of Miami Arbitration Week, with complimentary or discounted registration included in the prize package.

• AI Disclosure Policy. A new policy governs the use of generative AI tools. Limited, auxiliary use is permitted for research and editing assistance; substantive drafting must be the participant’s own work. Every entry must be accompanied by a signed AI Use Disclosure Statement.

• Updated Rubric. The grading rubric now includes a threshold compliance check, an express publishable-quality determination, equal weighting and a maximum score of 16, and tie-breaking guidance.

Key Dates

•       Call for entries opens: May 13, 2026.

•       Submission deadline: September 15, 2026 at 23:59 UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight Time).

•       Judging period: September 16 – November 13, 2026.

•       Notification of winners: on or before November 20, 2026.

•       Award ceremony: December 2, 2026, during MIAS' Flagship LatAm Investor-State Conference at Miami Arbitration Week 2026.

How to Enter

Entries must comply with the formatting and content requirements set forth in the official competition rules, including a word count of 5,000 to 10,000 words (excluding footnotes), 12-point Times New Roman, Bluebook citations, anonymized body text, and a signed AI Use Disclosure Statement, HERE. Submissions are made via the MIAS website HERE. Participants should review the competition rules, available on the MIAS website HERE, before submitting.

Questions

Questions regarding the 2026 MIAS Writing Competition should be directed to:

Manuel Gomez, MIAS Chair Elect

magomez@fiu.edu