New gTLD Program

The New gTLD Program is [[icann|ICANN's]] initiative to dramatically expand the domain namespace beyond the legacy gTLDs (such as .com, .net, and .org). The first application round opened in 2012, received 1,930 applications, and ultimately resulted in the delegation of over 1,200 new generic extensions — ranging from .app, .blog, and .shop to community strings like .nyc and brand TLDs like .google. The program introduced mechanisms including the [[tmch|TMCH]], [[urs|URS]], [[sunrise-period|Sunrise Period]], and a competitive auction process for contended strings. A second application round (2026) is currently in preparation, with expanded access provisions for applicants from developing economies.