ICANN's Next Round of New gTLDs (2026)

The legal framework

A generic top-level domain (gTLD) is the part of an address to the right of the last dot. New gTLDs are not created by a statute. ICANN, the non-profit that coordinates the domain name system, runs a programme in which organisations apply, are evaluated and, if successful, sign a registry agreement with ICANN. The rules sit in three layers: the policy recommendations developed in ICANN's community, the Applicant Guidebook that turns them into procedure, and the registry agreement that binds the operator after delegation.

Where the 2026 round stands

As of October 2026, the application window of the 2026 round is closed. It opened on 30 April 2026 and closed on 12 August 2026. ICANN reported 1,663 applications submitted, of which 1,616 were paid and are proceeding. On Reveal Day, 7 October 2026, ICANN published the applied-for strings and the applicants. A string replacement period followed, from 8 to 21 October, in which applicants could switch to a backup string. The base evaluation fee was USD 227,000 per application.

ICANN lists the next milestones as String Confirmation Day and a Community Input and Objections Period. The dates and details are published by ICANN, which is the only reliable source. Because the periods for objections and comments are limited, a brand owner who wants to react should check them now.

How an application proceeds

After the application window, applications go through string and applicant evaluation. Third parties may comment and object. Based on the 2012 model, which the 2026 guidebook largely follows, the grounds for objection are:

• string confusion: the string is confusingly similar to another string;
• legal rights: the string infringes the objector's existing rights, typically a trademark;
• limited public interest: the string is contrary to generally accepted legal norms; and
• community: substantial opposition from a community the string explicitly or implicitly targets.

Independent dispute resolution providers decide objections. Governments can also give advice through ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee. If several applicants want the same string, they form a contention set, which is resolved by agreement or, failing that, by auction. Once an application passes, the operator signs the registry agreement and the string is delegated in the root zone.

In practice

An applicant

A European manufacturer applied for its own name as a brand TLD. At Reveal Day it sees that a competitor in another country applied for a string that looks similar. The manufacturer can assess whether to file a string confusion objection or a legal rights objection, or to negotiate with the competitor. Its earlier trademark searches and its evidence of use support either path.

A brand owner who did not apply

A Dutch consumer brand did not apply. At Reveal Day it finds that a third party has applied for a string identical to its best-known trademark. As the trademark holder, it can file a legal rights objection or comment in the community input period. It will have to show its rights, the similarity of the string to its mark and why the applicant's use would take unfair advantage or harm its mark. If the string is delegated as an open registry, rights protection mechanisms such as the Trademark Clearinghouse, sunrise registrations and the Uniform Rapid Suspension system, described in the article on domain name disputes, protect trademark owners at the second level.

Lookalikes around new extensions

Each delegated gTLD becomes a new place for lookalike domain names. Our online brand monitoring discovers newly registered names, and our clearance engine checks strings against trademark registers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply in the 2026 round?

No. The application window closed on 12 August 2026. The previous large round was in 2012, so the rounds have been many years apart, and a decision to wait for a further round is a long-term one.

I did not apply. Is there anything for me to do?

Check the list of applied-for strings for names that match or resemble your trademarks. If you find one, you can comment or object within the periods ICANN publishes, and you can plan your rights protection for the time the string opens.

What does it cost to apply?

The base evaluation fee in the 2026 round was USD 227,000 per application. Other fees and the costs of a registry service provider, advice and objections come on top.

How long until a new gTLD is live?

It depends on contention and objections. Applications without either move faster, but delegation is not immediate after the window closes. The timeline is set by ICANN.

How this connects

Pitch advises brand owners on every stage described here in New gTLDs for Brands. The use of the technology is concrete: clearance of strings and monitoring of lookalike domains. Related articles explain the Applicant Guidebook for brand TLDs and the history of the programme.