On February 20-21, 2026, the International & Comparative Law Program (ICLP) at UCLA School of Law hosted its first International Law Weekend-West, in partnership with the American Branch of the International Law Association. The theme of the 2026 ILW-West was New Frontiers, Evolving Rules: The Future of International Law.

As global power dynamics shift and new frontiers expand beyond traditional borders, international law stands at a critical crossroads. This conference brought together leading experts to explore how international legal frameworks must evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and multipolar world - to protect humanity, the planet and future generations. From governing emerging technologies and new frontiers to reshaping geopolitical influence and reimagining international norms, speakers confronted the possibilities and tensions that may define the next era of international law.

Panels and keynotes included:

• Standing Up for International Law
• Cities as Global Norm-Shapers: Urban Power at the New Frontiers of International Law
• Revisiting the Use of Force: Legal Norms, State Practice, and Emerging Contours in International Law
• Reflecting on the Ongoing Negotiations for a New Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity: Challenges and Prospects
• Artificial Intelligence and the Boundaries of International Law
• A Necessary IDEA: International Human Rights Law and U.S. Public Policy in Differential Treatment of Social Groups
• Protest and International Law
• Feeding the Future: International Law and Food Security
• “The Veto” Film Screening: What is the Future of the Security Council
• Governing the Final Frontier: From Cities to Orbit
• Careers in International Law

The conference was sponsored by the UCLA Journal of International and Foreign Affairs, which will publish a collection of essays from the conference in its 30th volume in 2026.

The full Conference Program is available here.