ICANN's next round of new generic top-level domains is the most significant expansion of the domain name system since the 2012 round. The application window is expected to open in April 2026, following years of policy development, stakeholder consultation, and operational preparation by ICANN's New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Working Group. The programme will accept applications for new generic TLDs, both open gTLDs available for public registration and closed brand TLDs (also called dotBrand TLDs) operated exclusively by the applying organisation.
The scale and complexity of the 2026 round exceeds the 2012 round in several respects. The Applicant Guidebook (AGB) for 2026 runs to over 200 questions, compared to approximately 50 in the initial round. New registry operator requirements, enhanced security requirements, geographic name protections, and internationalised domain name provisions all contribute to the expanded evaluation framework. Applicants who participated in the 2012 round cannot assume that their previous experience fully prepares them for the 2026 process: the requirements have changed materially.
The 2026 round offers brand TLD applicants (organisations applying for a TLD consisting of their own brand name, operated as a closed registry for their exclusive use) the same structural value proposition as the 2012 round: a controlled, exclusive namespace under their brand name at the top level of the DNS, providing authentication, brand protection, and digital identity infrastructure that cannot be replicated under any shared TLD.
Brand TLD applications in 2026 are evaluated against a consolidated set of technical, financial, and operational criteria. Applicants must demonstrate the financial capability to operate a registry, technical competence to manage DNS infrastructure (or contract with an accredited registry service provider), and operational policies consistent with ICANN's requirements. For organisations that operated a brand TLD delegated in 2012, the 2026 round offers an opportunity to expand the namespace, renew strategic positioning, and potentially restructure registry operations in light of a decade of experience.
The 2012 round closed in 2012 and the 2026 round is expected to open approximately 14 years later. If ICANN's historical pattern continues, the next round after 2026 may not open for another decade or more. For organisations that have considered a brand TLD but deferred the decision, the 2026 window represents a time-limited opportunity that, once closed, may not reopen in a commercially meaningful timeframe.
The competitive dynamics of brand TLD ownership also argue for early action. Once a brand TLD is delegated to a competitor or a third party, the strategic positioning it creates (the exclusive namespace, the authentication infrastructure, the regulatory-facing digital identity capability) is permanently unavailable to other applicants for that string. String selection and competitive intelligence about likely applicants are therefore early-stage strategic decisions, not afterthoughts.
ICANN has indicated an application window opening in April 2026, with the precise dates subject to confirmation closer to launch. The window is expected to remain open for a defined period (likely several months) during which applications can be submitted and fees paid. Applications submitted after the window closes will not be accepted in the current round. Preparation time for a brand TLD application is significant: the due diligence, string selection, registry operator selection, and AGB question responses typically require 3 to 6 months of structured work. Organisations that have not begun preparation before the window opens are at risk of being unable to submit a compliant application.
ICANN has published indicative fee information as part of the 2026 round preparation, though the confirmed figures are subject to finalisation closer to the application window. Based on ICANN's published materials, the evaluation fee for a new gTLD application in the 2026 round is in the range of USD 230,000, with additional fees payable for contention resolution, objection proceedings, and other contingent steps in the process. This represents the ICANN evaluation fee only; applicants also incur advisory costs, registry operator fees, and internal preparation costs.
Yes. The new gTLD programme is open to applicants from any country. ICANN's requirements do not restrict applications to US-based entities, and the 2012 round saw successful applications from European, Asian, and other non-US organisations. Belgian and other EU-based organisations can apply directly. Applicants from certain jurisdictions may face additional considerations around sanctions compliance, registry operator contracting, and ICANN's applicable law provisions, but these are manageable with appropriate legal and advisory support.
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