New Domain Extensions on the Horizon: ICANN’s 2026 gTLD Round Explained
A new wave of top-level domains (TLDs) is on the way. ICANN, the nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the global domain name system, has opened the door to a fresh batch of TLDs. A top-level domain is the segment that appears after the final dot in a web address, such as .com, .org, or .ai. The current round, referred to by ICANN as the Next Round, opened its application window on April 30, 2026, and closed on August 12, 2026.
Application costs and commitment
Applying for a new TLD is a major undertaking. Each application incurs an ICANN fee of $227,000 per string, in addition to substantial technical, legal, and operational costs associated with running a registry. Applicants are making a long-term investment in the viability and governance of their proposed strings.
A glance at the 2012 round
The last major round, which began in 2012, attracted 1,930 applications. Approximately 1,200 new TLDs eventually went live, giving rise to extensions such as .app, .dev, .xyz, and .online. For readers seeking a deeper understanding of how registries, registrars, and ICANN interact within the domain ecosystem, our comprehensive guide on registries provides a detailed overview.
A notable early disclosure: Link Freedom Group’s extensive portfolio
While many details remain confidential until ICANN publishes the official list, Link Freedom Group (LFG) publicly disclosed a substantial portfolio. Building on the Nova Registry framework that operates the .link TLD, LFG announced plans for more than 300 proposed TLDs—the largest single submission on record, and roughly triple Google’s 101 applications in 2012. LFG released its full list at LFG.link ahead of the official Reveal Day.
Representative examples from LFG’s announced strings (grouped by theme):
– AI and technology: .llm, .agi, .quantum, .robot
– Commerce: .cart, .brand, .merch, .mall
– Crypto and Web3: .block, .btc, .coin, .nft
– Culture: .lfg, .kek, .mvp, .truth, .omg, .boom
– Lifestyle: .nil, .god, .pop, .zen
– Web infrastructure: .portal, .core, .bit, .internet, .url
Important caveat: a submitted application is not a launch
Submitting an application is just the beginning. Each proposed string must undergo thorough evaluation, address potential objections, and resolve any conflicts. A key element of that process is contention management.
Understanding contention
When multiple applicants seek the same string, ICANN assigns them to a contention set. The competing parties must resolve the dispute—either through mutual agreement or via an auction. Contention is not merely theoretical. In 2012, the contention process for .web culminated in an auction that reached $135 million, and the string subsequently faced years of disputes.
Expect contention in the 2026 round as well. For instance, Unstoppable Domains and the 0G Foundation have signaled their intent to pursue .agi—the same string on LFG’s list. Strings such as .llm, .btc, .coin, and .nft are likely to be highly sought after. Until ICANN publishes the official contention sets, it is impossible to determine which entities will operate particular strings, what the pricing will be, or whether a given string will launch at all.
Key milestones in the timeline
– Application window: April 30 – August 12, 2026 — Submissions and fees due.
– Administrative checks: August – October 2026 — ICANN verifies completeness and flags identical strings.
– Reveal Day: Expected late October 2026 — Official publication of all applied-for strings and applicants.
– String confirmation: November 2026 — Contending applicants may switch to listed fallback strings; final string list and contention sets published.
– Evaluation and objections: Through late 2027 — Technical/financial evaluations, objection periods, and contention resolution.
– First launches: Late 2027 to early 2028 — First uncontested strings sign registry agreements and go live, each with its own sunrise and general-availability dates.
Can you register or reserve a name in a new extension today?
No. At this stage, the strings do not exist in the DNS, and most will not exist before late 2027 at the earliest. Be cautious of offers to “secure” or “guarantee” a name in an unlaunched extension for a fee. Legitimate pre-registration is typically a free, non-binding expression of interest and cannot reserve anything, since launch-phase rules are set by each registry only after string approval. Paid guarantees for unlaunched TLDs are a common scam pattern around every gTLD round.
What the launch process will likely look like, based on precedent
– Sunrise: A period reserved for trademark owners whose marks are recorded in ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). This phase is worth preparing for if you hold registered trademarks.
– Early access / landrush: Some registries offer early registration at premium pricing that declines over time.
– General availability: Open registration on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pricing dynamics
Registration pricing for each new extension will be determined by the winning registry. Until strings are launched, it is not possible to quote prices. When new extensions go live, pricing will appear in our extension catalog and pricing page, alongside the applicable ICANN fee ($0.20 per year for gTLDs) and standard payment processing fees (typically 3% or a $0.30 minimum).
AI’s role in the next wave of gTLDs
The 2012 round predates modern AI, and the current cycle targets AI-focused strings such as .llm, .agi, .robot, and .quantum. These strings are designed for the AI ecosystem, and the market will increasingly involve automated domain management by AI agents. Our registrar already supports programmatic domain search, comparison, and registration via APIs and integrations. As AI-enabled agents become more capable of acting on “get me a .llm domain for this project” commands as soon as general availability opens, the dynamics of launch-day registrations will evolve significantly from 2012.
Current status and next milestones
– The AI-focused strings and other high-demand registries are entering a phase of intense scrutiny and competition.
– Reveal Day and the subsequent contention sets are the next critical milestones to watch, as they determine which strings advance and who will operate them.
We will continue to provide updates as the round progresses, with emphasis on Reveal Day outcomes and the resolution of contention sets. If you’d like, I can summarize the official list and contention outcomes as soon as ICANN releases them.
