Countdown begins! ICANN 2026 new gTLD application window opens on April 30th.

The global internet domain name industry is witnessing a historic moment – ​​ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has officially announced that the application window for a new round of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) in 2026 will officially open at 23:59 (UTC time) on April 30, 2026, and close precisely at 23:59 (UTC time) on August 12, 2026, for a total of 105 days. No new applications will be accepted after this period. This is the first systematic expansion of gTLD applications by ICANN in 14 years since its first large-scale opening of new gTLD applications in 2012.

I. A 14-Year Wait: Why is this Round of New gTLD Applications a "Once-in-a-Decade Opportunity"?

Over the past 14 years, the global digital economy, artificial intelligence, Web3.0, metaverse, and global brand strategies have experienced explosive growth. The application scenarios, user needs, and business logic of the internet have undergone disruptive changes. This makes this round of new gTLD applications far more valuable than the previous round, a true strategic window that "if you miss it, you'll have to wait another generation." There are three core reasons for this:

First, traditional top-level domain resources are nearing saturation, highlighting the scarcity of high-quality characters. After decades of development, high-quality characters (short words, industry terms, brand terms, core keywords) in traditional suffixes such as .com, .net, and .org have been almost entirely registered. Companies wanting to acquire domains highly aligned with their brand and business must either pay high prices to repurchase from investors or be forced to use long, obscure spellings, significantly increasing brand communication costs and user memorization costs. The opening of new gTLDs is equivalent to "adding a batch of digital land" to the global internet. Enterprises and investors can directly apply for core characters that precisely match their needs, seizing the "original dividends" of digital assets.

Second, there is an explosive growth in the demand for digital and global branding. Today, brand competition has extended from offline and traditional online to top-level internet resources—top-level domains, as a company's "global digital business card," directly impact global brand recognition, trust, and user reach efficiency. Especially for companies going global, a dedicated new gTLD can achieve a "globally unified brand identity," avoiding inconsistencies in domain names across different countries and regions, while effectively preventing brand counterfeiting and phishing websites, ensuring brand digital security. Furthermore, companies in emerging sectors such as AI, Web3.0, and new energy urgently need new gTLDs highly aligned with their sector attributes (such as .ai, .web3, .green) to quickly establish industry recognition and seize entry points into these sectors.

Third, the "non-renewable" nature and "first-come, first-served" principle of new gTLDs. Top-level domain (gTLD) strings are unique. Once a core character is successfully registered as a new gTLD, other organizations will be unable to register the same string. ICANN operates on a "first-come, first-served" basis for new gTLD applications, with no waiting list mechanism.

II. Detailed Explanation of Core Rules for New gTLD Applications in 2026

Application Timeline

1. Application Window Opens: April 30, 2026, 23:59 (UTC). At this time, ICANN TAMS (New gTLD Application Management System) will be officially open, and applicants can submit application materials through the system.

2. Application Window Closes: August 12, 2026, 23:59 (UTC). After closing, the system will stop accepting any new applications, and even if the materials are complete, they cannot be submitted.

3. Application Fee Payment Deadline: Within 7 calendar days after the application window closes (i.e., August 19, 2026, 23:59). Before UTC (Under the UTC Threshold), applicants must pay the full application fee. Failure to pay by the deadline will result in automatic withdrawal of the application, and the prepayment will not be refunded.

4. Time for Supplementing and Modifying Materials: After submitting the application, applicants can modify or supplement the application materials before the window closes. However, after the window closes, no further modifications to the application information are permitted except for necessary corrections required by ICANN.

5. Evaluation Period: After application submission and fee payment, ICANN will initiate a comprehensive evaluation, which is expected to take 12–18 months. This evaluation mainly includes eligibility review, technical evaluation, legal evaluation, and dispute resolution.

6. Deployment and Launch Timeline: After passing all evaluation stages, the new gTLD will enter the root zone deployment phase. Registration is expected to officially open 18–24 months after application approval, at which point applicants can begin operating the suffix.

Application Fee Standards

The application fees for the new gTLDs have increased by 22.7% compared to 2012. These fees mainly include a basic assessment fee and various conditional surcharges. All fees are settled in US dollars, as detailed below:

1. Basic Assessment Fee: US$227,000 per application. This is a fixed fee payable by all applicants and is used for ICANN's initial review of application materials, technical assessment, legal assessment, and other basic services.

2. Other Surcharges: If the applied string involves protected intellectual property rights, religious symbols, or the names of international organizations, an additional review fee will be charged based on the specific circumstances. The specific amount is determined by ICANN based on the complexity of the review.

3. Fee Explanation: All fees must be paid in full at once. ICANN does not offer installment payment options. There are no bulk discounts; even if an applicant applies for multiple strings simultaneously, each string still requires a separate full payment. If an application is rejected or withdrawn, the basic assessment fee is non-refundable; only the conditional surcharges are refundable.

III. Countdown Action List: 5 Things You Must Start Now

1. Secure Core Strings: Prioritize applying for the full brand name, abbreviation, core business terms, and AI/industry keywords.

2. Confirm Financial Budget: A single suffix, including fees and operating costs, starts at approximately $3 million USD. Plan your funds in advance.

3. Sign a Professional RSP: Applications must be assisted by an ICANN pre-certified registration service provider.

4. Prepare Application Materials: 440-page guidelines, 225 review points; a professional team is needed for compliance implementation.

5. Dispute Risk Assessment: Conduct trademark, community, and geographical name conflict assessments in advance.

This new ICANN gTLD application window, which comes only once every 14 years, is the only strategic opportunity for companies to establish global brands, investors to secure scarce digital assets, and institutions to create industry entry points. The scarcity and non-renewability of high-quality strings determine that "first come, first served." Every step of preparation now will become the foundation for future digital asset appreciation.