ICANN 2026: Next Round
Everything about the upcoming ICANN new gTLD application round in 2026: eligibility, costs, timeline, and strategy.
For: Prospective TLD applicants and industry analysts
ICANN New gTLD Program 2026: Complete Overview
The complete guide to ICANN's 2026 new gTLD application round: what it is, why it matters, the four application categories, and the full evaluation journey.
7 min readHow to Apply for a New gTLD in 2026
Step-by-step guide to applying for a new gTLD in ICANN's 2026 round: eligibility, required materials, fees, evaluation stages, objections, and delegation.
8 min readCost of Applying for a New TLD: Full Breakdown
Full cost breakdown for applying for a new TLD in 2026: $185K+ ICANN evaluation fee, legal costs, back-end registry operator, auctions, and annual operations.
7 min readICANN 2026 Timeline: Key Dates and Milestones
ICANN 2026 new gTLD application round: application window dates, evaluation phases, string contention resolution, and TLD delegation schedule milestones.
7 min readWho Can Apply for a New TLD? Eligibility Requirements
ICANN 2026 new TLD eligibility requirements: legal entity status, financial capacity thresholds, technical capability, and common disqualification grounds.
7 min readLessons from the 2012 gTLD Round
Key lessons from the ICANN 2012 new gTLD round: success stories, registry failures, string contention auctions, and what every 2026 applicant must know.
7 min readString Contention: When Multiple Parties Want the Same TLD
How ICANN resolves string contention when multiple applicants want the same TLD: private resolution, community priority evaluation, and last-resort auctions.
8 min readFinancial and Technical Evaluation Criteria
What ICANN evaluators look for in financial and technical assessments for new gTLD applications: scoring criteria, common failures, and how to prepare.
7 min readGeographic and Community TLD Applications
Geographic and community gTLD applications in 2026: government endorsement, .nyc and .berlin case studies, GAC advice, and community priority evaluation.
7 min readShould Your Company Apply for a Brand TLD?
ROI analysis for corporate brand TLD applications in 2026: cost vs. benefit, Google and Amazon case studies, strategic alternatives, and decision framework.
8 min readObjection Grounds and GAC Early Warnings
ICANN new gTLD objection grounds explained: legal rights, limited public interest, community objection, string similarity, and how GAC early warnings work.
8 min readPost-Delegation: Running a TLD Registry
Running a TLD registry after ICANN delegation: compliance obligations, registrar relations, EBERO, DNS abuse management, and long-term sustainability planning.
8 min read