The ICANN 2026 cycle marks the return of a rare milestone in Internet governance. Between April and August 2026, companies, institutions, and project leaders will be able to apply for the creation of new top-level domains. Procedure, timeline, costs, and strategic implications, this concise reminder outlines what needs to be known, and above all, what must be anticipated.

The next round for the creation of new Internet extensions is approaching. The application window will open no later than 30 April 2026 and will close on 12 August 2026 at 23:59 UTC. This round takes place at a particular moment in the history of the DNS, more than forty years after symbolics.com, at the dawn of a new phase in the structuring of Internet naming[1]. The context is no longer experimental, but strategic.

New gTLDs

A gTLD (generic Top-Level Domain) is a top-level extension located to the right of the dot in a domain name. Unlike country-code extensions (.fr, .de, .au), a gTLD is not linked to a territory, but to a logic of use or identification.

Within the ICANN program, several major categories must be clearly distinguished.

Generic or descriptive extensions. These consist of common words or sector-based or conceptual terms, such as .HOTEL, .ONLINE, .SHOP, or .GREEN. These extensions are designed to be operated in an open or semi-open manner, for the benefit of an ecosystem, a market, or a community of actors. They involve structuring choices in terms of governance, registration policies, and competitive positioning.

Brand extensions: .BRAND. In this model, the extension corresponds to a registered trademark and its use is strictly reserved for the rights holder. The gTLD then becomes a piece of digital infrastructure, enabling the structuring of online identity, customer journeys, security, and trust, well beyond a simple website[2].

Community extensions. These are intended for a clearly identified community, professional, cultural, linguistic, or sector-based, such as .BANK for the banking sector or .PHARMACY for authorized actors in pharmaceutical distribution.

Geographic extensions. TLDs such as .AFRICA, .PARIS, .TOKYO, or .NYC correspond to cities, regions, or territories and require the explicit support of the relevant public authorities, making them projects that are inherently political as well as technical.

A demanding procedure

Submitting an ICANN application is neither a simple form nor a mere technical formality. The Applicant Guidebook describes a rigorous procedure[3].

Everything starts upstream. The applicant must be a duly constituted legal entity, with clear governance, demonstrable financial capacity, and a coherent project. An official account must be created on ICANN’s dedicated platform, the TLD Application Management System (TAMS), with enhanced authentication. This is where the essentials are decided, project structuring and articulation with the existing ecosystem.

Once the window opens, between late April and mid-August 2026, the application is submitted entirely online. The file rests on three pillars, the organization, financial soundness, and the gTLD project itself. The volume of information required and the successive review steps make any rush relatively risky. Haste is a poor adviser, and early preparation is strongly recommended.

After 12 August 2026 at 23:59 UTC, modification options become exceptional and strictly limited.

Finally comes a phase that is often underestimated, payment. The evaluation fee must be settled shortly after the window closes. Failing this, the application may be dismissed without substantive review.

Cost

The entry price for ICANN evaluation is set at USD 227,000 per application.

Additional fees may apply, in particular for geographic or community extensions, or for applications involving specific commitments. For brand extensions, these costs must be assessed in light of a broader proprietary architecture strategy[4].

In practice, USD 227,000 is not a total budget, but the minimum threshold to enter the process.

Anticipate rather than react

ICANN 2026 is not just another opportunity. It is a rare milestone, engaging applicants legally, technically, and symbolically. The long-term nature of the DNS requires a clear and forward-looking approach.

In this context, support makes a difference. IP Twins has direct experience from the 2012 round, covering both brand TLD projects and generic or sector-based extensions. This experience makes it possible to anticipate friction points, avoid common mistakes, and turn an application into a genuine strategic project, rather than a mere compliance exercise.

The real question is therefore not only how to apply, but whether to apply now, with what scope and what ambition. The timeline is public. The rules are known. The rest is a matter of strategy.

Notes

[1] Forty Years of DNS, from symbolics.com to the dawn of the 2026 round, iptwins.com, 2025-11-05.

[2] .BRAND, more than just an extension, a proprietary architecture, iptwins.com, 2025-12-19.

[3] ICANN, New gTLD Program: 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook, 16 December 2025 : icann.org.

[4] .BRAND, more than just an extension, a proprietary architecture, iptwins.com, 2025-12-19.