The inaugural administration of the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in Washington State, scheduled for July 28–29, 2026, has been canceled. This decision follows the inability to complete the exam as planned on Tuesday.
The NextGen UBE, developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), was designed to assess a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, utilizing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law. ([ncbex.org](https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/about-nextgen?utm_source=openai))
Washington was among the first jurisdictions to adopt the NextGen UBE, with plans to administer it starting in July 2026. ([ncbex.org](https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen?utm_source=openai)) The state’s Supreme Court had previously set the minimum passing score for the NextGen UBE at 610, equivalent to a UBE score of 260. ([courts.wa.gov](https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Supreme%20Court%20Orders/25700-B-747%20FINAL%20ORDER%20NextGen%20Bar%20Exam.pdf?utm_source=openai))
The cancellation of the July administration raises questions about the implementation of the NextGen UBE in Washington and potentially other jurisdictions. The NCBE has been working on this new format since 2018, aiming to better reflect the skills required in modern legal practice. ([insidehighered.com](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/careers/2026/07/27/new-bar-exam-here?utm_source=openai))
As of now, the Washington State Bar Association has not provided further details regarding the reasons for the cancellation or plans for rescheduling the exam. Candidates and stakeholders are advised to monitor official communications for updates on future administrations of the NextGen UBE in Washington.