ICANN opens 2026 new gTLD application window from 30 April to 12 August
March 7, 2026 · Sub Editor at Den
ICANN opened the application window for the 2026 New gTLD Program round on 30 April 2026, with submissions accepted through 12 August 2026, a 105-day window. Applicants must file through TAMS (TLD Application Management System), and the evaluation fee is USD 227,000, payable within seven days after the window closes per the Applicant Guidebook.
This is the first open application round since 2012, with support for 27 scripts in IDN gTLD applications. Cities, brands, communities, and registry operators are the intended applicants, not hand-reg investors hoping to flip duplicate strings.
Why domain investors care
New extensions can shift marketing budgets and defensive registration patterns for corporate clients. They rarely create overnight aftermarket demand for your portfolio of .com brandables unless a specific string overlaps with your holdings. Domainer Den founder Jay Paudyal's ICANN fellowship history, documented on our About page, reflects long-standing governance engagement separate from day-to-day flipping.
Numbers to remember
- Application window: 30 April to 12 August 2026 (105 days).
- Fee: USD 227,000 evaluation charge for applicants who proceed past submission.
- Platform: TAMS for document upload and status tracking.
Portfolio holders should watch for confusion marketing targeting beginners who mistake this round for cheap hand-reg opportunities. The fee alone filters speculative participation.