As part of the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference 2026, taking place in New Delhi, India, from 13-15 September 2026, the programme will once again feature one of the conference's most closely watched parallel sessions – the Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum. 

Now firmly established as a fixture of FIDIC's flagship annual event, this standing forum brings together adjudicators, dispute board members, dispute board practitioners and other experienced industry participants to examine the latest global issues shaping dispute avoidance and adjudication practice. 

The FIDIC Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum was first established in 2022 to give practitioners a dedicated space to discuss current global issues in the field and it has since grown into a key meeting point for the dispute board community. Momentum has continued to build. In December 2025, at the International Contract Users' Conference in London, FIDIC launched its third Practice Note III Dispute Board Decisions: Preparation and Composition  which sets out best-practice guidance for producing dispute board decisions, including approaches to managing the referral process. 

At last year's Global Infrastructure Conference in Cape Town, dispute avoidance and adjudication was one of several industry-specific forums held alongside sessions on legal, digital and contract management topics, giving attendees the chance to build capacity and share knowledge with sector peers. New Delhi looks set to build on that success, offering delegates two dedicated sessions in which to debate emerging challenges and help shape the future direction of dispute avoidance practice worldwide. 

Both Part A and Part B of the forum are designed for practitioners already active and knowledgeable in dispute avoidance techniques within the engineering, construction and infrastructure sectors, offering a focused, peer-level forum for candid discussion away from the main conference stage. Running as two sequential sessions, the forum allows delegates to build on discussion points across both parts, moving from broader global trends into more detailed, practice-level debate. 

Daduna Kokhreidze, FIDIC's chief legal and contracts officer, said: “Dispute avoidance is fundamental to the successful delivery of projects. As the use of dispute boards continues to expand globally, the importance of this forum has never been greater. By bringing together leading experts and practitioners from around the world, we create a unique platform to exchange ideas, share experiences, and promote best practices in proactive dispute avoidance. This year in India, we will not only discuss the latest developments in dispute board practice, but also shape our fourth practice note on site visits before it is finalised. Site visits are one of the most important tools available to dispute boards for identifying issues early and preventing disputes from escalating and we hope this note will become an essential practical resource for every project using dispute boards."

The forum in New Delhi will also mark a significant step in FIDIC's ongoing practice note series. Delegates will review the draft of FIDIC's fourth practice note, covering site visits, ahead of its planned release. Building on the third practice note, the new draft is expected to set out best-practice guidance for dispute board members conducting site visits, an integral part of the proactive, avoidance-focused role that dispute boards play under the FIDIC forms of contract. Delegate input at the forum will help shape the final publication. 

With India's infrastructure sector undergoing rapid transformation and recent reforms in areas such as dispute resolution helping to reduce project execution risk, New Delhi provides a timely backdrop for these conversations. 

Registration for the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference 2026, including the Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum, is open now via events.fidic.org/gic26. The forum is an invite-only event for conference attendees. As places are expected to be in high demand, early expression of interest is recommended.