The wait is over. ICANN pulled back the curtain and published every application in the 2026 New gTLD round. This is ICANN’s newest round since 2012, and now that the list is out, we can see just how different it looks.
If you spot a string (the part after the dot, like .gym) that matches your brand or looks a lot like it, you will want to move quickly. A window for public comments and formal objections opens on November 17, 2026 and closes on March 16, 2027.
We built the 101domain 2026 New gTLD Hub so you can follow all of it in one place, from every applied-for domain to the key dates and what happens next. Sign up for updates and we will deliver them straight to your inbox, so you don’t miss a key date.
What ICANN revealed today
Applications closed on August 12, 2026. ICANN’s Reveal Day publication shows 1,615 total applications, 968 unique strings, and 263 contention sets.
This is the first complete, verified view of the round, including the contention sets and the public portions of each application. Applicants had been sharing their picks for weeks, from playful nods like .dragon and .zzz to everyday words that feel own-able, like .zen, .happy, and .gym. Plus the high-profile .human, filed as an open namespace for individuals rather than a single brand’s private domain. Now you can check the full list for yourself.
New updates will keep surfacing as applicants react to the list and ICANN releases further guidance. We will track every change at the Launch Hub.
What’s different this time around?
2012 left much of the sorting out to objections, auctions, and private deals. 2026 comes with a clearer playbook.
- Replacement strings. This one is new for 2026, and it starts tomorrow. From October 8 through October 21, applicants have 14 days to swap in a backup string. If several parties applied for the same TLD (a contention set), some can step aside without starting from scratch. ICANN reported in August that more than 1,100 applications named a replacement string in advance.
- A prioritization draw. The draw sets the processing order for every application. It follows ICANN’s String Evaluation Stage, expected to take about 180 days, so look for it in the first half of 2027 (date to be announced).
- A defined objection period. Public comments and formal challenges run from String Confirmation Day on November 17, 2026 through March 16, 2027.
- No more private side deals. Now that Reveal Day has passed, applicants can no longer settle conflicts privately. Anything left goes to ICANN auctions or Community Priority Evaluation.
In 2012, 1,241 of 1,930 applications reached delegation, meaning they went live (a 64% success rate). In 2026, 1,615 applications are moving forward and are now in initial evaluation. ICANN hasn’t forecast final delegations yet, so it’s too early to compare the two rounds.
Key dates to track
The structure is clearer this round, but timing is the big variable. Five dates matter most between now and next spring. Here is how it breaks down:
| Milestone | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Reveal Day | October 7, 2026 | Every applied-for string goes public |
| Replacement Period | October 8, 2026 — October 21, 2026 | Applicants can swap to a backup string |
| String Confirmation Day | November 17, 2026 | Final string list is locked in |
| Community input and objections period | November 17, 2026 — March 16, 2027 | Comment on or challenge any string |
| Prioritization Draw | H1 2027 (TBD) | Sets the order applications areprocessed |
ICANN will announce later milestones, like string evaluation results and the start of contention resolution, as they are confirmed. We’ll post every update at the Launch Hub and in our newsletters.
What this means for your brand
The extensions launched in 2012 now account for 52.9 million active domain registrations as of October 2026. That round changed the domain space, and this one is shaping up to do the same. The list is public, so the next move is yours.
- Search the list today. Look for strings that match, contain, or resemble your marks and key brand names. Find the list in our Launch Hub, Upcoming TLDs in Launch.
- Mark two dates: November 17, 2026 and March 16, 2027. Talk with your counsel about whether any string deserves a comment or a formal objection.
- Decide how you will keep watch once strings launch. Our monitoring and enforcement services track new registrations against your marks.
Not protecting a brand? Here’s your opportunity
Some of these new extensions could be the perfect fit for your business, project, or portfolio. Spot one you’d love to own? Sign up for alerts and we’ll let you know the moment it opens for registration, so you’re first in line.
We are at the start of a two-year rollout, with dates and details confirmed on a rolling basis. 101domain guided clients through the entire 2012 round, and we are here to break down every update this time too. Browse the New gTLD extensions we support, or visit the Launch Hub for the full picture.
Want a second pair of eyes on the list?
We can check the published list against your marks. Talk to our corporate brand team.