ICANN 2026 new gTLD round: window, cost, and who should apply
May 22, 2026 · Sub Editor at Den
ICANN opened the 2026 New gTLD Program application window on 30 April 2026. Submissions close 12 August 2026 (105 days). Applicants file through TAMS, pay a USD 227,000 evaluation fee (due within seven days after the window closes per the Applicant Guidebook), and may propose IDN strings across 27 scripts. This is the first open round since 2012.
Who should apply
- Cities and regions promoting tourism or civic identity
- Fortune-scale brands protecting house marks as TLDs
- Community groups with governance and abuse policies ready
- Registry operators with capital and compliance teams
Hand-reg flippers should not apply. The fee alone exceeds most portfolios' total value. Misleading coaching that treats gTLD rounds like cheap land grabs hurts beginners.
Domainer Den context
Jay Paudyal's ICANN fellowship and IDN program volunteer work, documented on our About page, reflects long-term governance engagement. That lens matters: new strings change defensive registration and corporate DNS strategy more than they create instant aftermarket demand for your .com brandables.
Investor implications
Watch for brands accidentally confusing new TLD marketing with .com aftermarket weakness. Sedo Global Domain Report growth near 1.2% suggests legacy TLD dominance continues. Apply ICANN news to corporate clients; keep your flip math on GoDaddy and DropCatch.
Key dates and numbers
- Open: 30 April 2026
- Close: 12 August 2026
- Fee: USD 227,000 evaluation
- System: TAMS portal for documents and payments